About 32% of South Africans were economically inactive in the first quarter of 2025.
Statistics South Africa released findings showing a slight decrease of 291 000 in the
number of employed persons to 16,8 million from 17,1 million in Quarter 4 last year (2024), while there was an increase of 237 000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8,2 million.
This resulted in a decrease of 54 000 (down by 0,2%) in the labour force during the same
period.
According to the report, tabled on Tuesday, the 13th May 2025, discouraged work-seekers increased by 7 000 (up by 0,2%), and the number of persons who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement, increased by 177 000 (up by 1,4%) between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. This led to an increase of 184 000 in the number of the not
economically active population, to 16,7 million.
All these changes point to an increase by a 1,0 percentage point from 31,9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, to 32,9% in the first quarter of 2025.
This is despite an increase in the number of people employed in the formal sector, recorded in the transport sector.
Decreases in employment were recorded in Trade (194 000), Construction (119 000), Private households (68 000), Community and Social services (45 000), and Mining (35 000).
More people got jobs in the Western Cape (49 000), during the first quarter of 2025, followed by Gauteng (9 000) and the Free State (4 000).
The most decreases were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (104 000), Eastern Cape (83 000), North- West (57 000), Limpopo (55 000), Mpumalanga (43 000) and Northern Cape (12 000).
The number of unemployed youth between the ages of 15–34 years, increased by at least 151 000 to 4,8 million, employed youth decreased by 153 000 to 5,7
million.
As a result, the youth unemployment rate increased from 44,6% in the fourth
quarter of 2024 to 46,1% in the first quarter of 2025.
Picture: NRF