SA's unemployment rate decreases to 32.6% in Q2, however numbers are still shockingly high.

Loading player...
GUEST – Risenga Maluleke – Stats SA’s Stastitician General

Stats SA announced today that the official unemployment rate was 32.6% in the second quarter of 2023 – a slight improvement from the first quarter.

The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) indicate that the number of employed persons increased by 154,000 to 16.3 million in Q2 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2023. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 11,000 to 7.9 million during the same quarter. Additionally, the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement increased by 93,000 to 13.3 million.

The discouraged work-seekers decreased by 94,000 in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2023, resulting in a net decrease of 1,000 in the not economically active population. This resulted in the official unemployment rate decreasing by 0.3 of a percentage points from 32.9% in the first quarter of 2023 to 32.6% in the second quarter of 2023
15 Aug 2023 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Tracking South Africa’s Reform Agenda

Econometrix Chief Economist Dr. Azar Jammine breaks down the latest Operation Vulindlela progress report. We explore where reforms are gaining traction—from energy restructuring to freight logistics—and where bottlenecks remain.
28 Apr 3PM 20 min

Is SA’s Construction Sector Turning?

Economist Dr. Roelof Botha analyzes the latest Afrimat Construction Index alongside Operation Vulindlela’s reform dashboard. With construction activity rising for a second quarter, we ask whether reforms in energy, logistics, and water are finally translating into real‑world infrastructure momentum.
28 Apr 3PM 13 min

Making B‑BBEE Work for Growth

NEF General Counsel Karishma Govender joins us to unpack new research on managers’ perceptions of B‑BBEE. We explore why transformation remains essential.
28 Apr 3PM 8 min

Inside the SpendTrend26 Report

Discovery Bank CEO Hylton Kallner joins Kaya Biz to unpack the SpendTrend26 report, revealing how South Africans are becoming more disciplined, more digital, and more value‑driven.
28 Apr 3PM 17 min

Long‑Term Investing in Uncertain Markets

With global conflict, inflation swings, and rapid AI disruption, investors are feeling the pressure. Horacia Naidoo‑McCarthy from Allan Gray explains how to avoid emotional decision‑making, anchor to fundamentals, and maintain long‑term discipline when markets feel unfamiliar and unpredictable.
28 Apr 3PM 12 min