South Africa’s Unemployment Rises to 33.2%, Women and Disabled Most Affected

South Africa news: South Africa’s Unemployment Rises to 33.2%, Women and Disabled Most Affected. Image for illustration purposes only, generated with AI.

South Africa’s unemployment rate has climbed to 33.2% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 32.9% in the previous quarter, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). While the economy added 19,000 jobs, more than 140,000 jobs were lost, pushing the total number of unemployed persons to 8.4 million.

Job Market Struggles Amid Economic Slowdown

The figures reveal a troubling trend in South Africa’s labor market, with employment growth failing to keep pace with job losses. The number of employed individuals now stands at 16.8 million, but experts warn that structural issues in the economy continue to hinder meaningful recovery.

Women and People with Disabilities Hit Hardest

During a discussion on the unemployment crisis, Bongiwe Mbunge, a partner at the For Viz Maz Institute of Development, highlighted the disproportionate impact on women, particularly those living with disabilities. Citing data from the 2011 census, she noted that disability rates are higher among women, with many facing exclusion from employment, education, and housing.

“About 15% of disabled persons are excluded from access to jobs and basic resources,” Mbunge stated. “This cannot be the norm. We need solutions that include people where they are, leveraging technology and future skills like AI, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering.”

Corporate Incentives Falling Short

While South African companies receive bonus points under the DTI’s Codes of Good Practice and BBBEE policies for hiring and training disabled individuals, Bongi acknowledged that accessibility barriers remain a major challenge.

“Businesses must be encouraged to do more,” she said. “Though entry-level job access has improved, absorption rates from learnerships are still too low. We need sector-specific BBBEE criteria to drive progress.”

Youth Unemployment Remains a Crisis

With youth unemployment still the highest demographic affected, initiatives like the Youth Employment Grant aim to provide relief. However, experts argue that broader, more inclusive policies are needed to address systemic exclusion.

As South Africa grapples with rising joblessness, calls for economic reforms, skills development, and corporate accountability grow louder. For now, millions remain trapped in a cycle of unemployment, with women and disabled individuals bearing the brunt of the crisis.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}