Unemployment & Income
Stats SA QLFS — labour market health and household income. Q1 2026
Unemployment (National)
32.7%
Official unemployment rate
Youth unemployment
46.3%
Ages 15–24 — policy-critical
Employed persons
16.8m
Expanded unemployment: 43.7%
Median income (National)
—
Min wage: R28.79/hr
Gini coefficient
0.63
Income inequality (0 = equal)
Moderate inequality
Expanded unemployment (National)
43.7%
Includes discouraged work-seekers
Youth unemployment gap
+13.6pp
Youth rate minus overall unemployment
National min wage (monthly)
R4 606
~160 hours at sectoral floor
Employment map
Unemployment % by province — click to focus a region
South Africa
Unemployment rate by province
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Median monthly income by province (R)
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