Stats SA reported that 36.4% of South Africans aged between 15 and 24 were not in employment, education or training.
South Africa's youth unemployment crisis worsened in the second quarter of 2026, with nearly two in three young people unable to find work, as economists warned that the country's jobs crisis is increasingly becoming a skills crisis.
Statistics South Africa's latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) showed the official unemployment rate rose to 33.6% in the second quarter, from 32.7% in the first three months of the year, as the number of unemployed people increased by 345,000 to 8.5 million. Employment declined by 16,000 over the quarter.
While the headline unemployment rate remains stubbornly high, the figures also highlight the growing premium attached to education. According to Investec economist Lara Hodes, youth unemployment is at a “critically elevated” 62.8%, up from 60.9% previously.
“The youth segment of the market remains the most disadvantaged when it comes to finding sustainable employment,” said Hodes.
