KZN sheds 41 000 jobs as unemployment crisis tightens grip

KwaZulu-Natal has shed 41 000 jobs, and youth unemployment continues to persist despite economic green shoots becoming more conspicuous across the province and country. While South Africa’s economy seems to be on a positive trajectory, experts have long warned that unless 3-5% yearly economic growth becomes a reality, the average person is unlikely to find it any easier when checking out at the supermarket or searching for a job. This warning was crystallised by Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke, who announced a slight drop in unemployment while warning that unemployment remains one of the country’s biggest challenges on Tuesday morning.

Maluleke said South Africa’s official unemployment figures have dropped by 0,5% to 31,4% in the fourth quarter of 2025. That statistic represents 7,8 million people who are able to work but are without a job. He said the largest employment gains were recorded in services (46 000), construction (35 000), and finance (32 000) industries, while the largest employment losses were recorded in the trade (98 000) and manufacturing (61 000) industries.

Maluleke said the provinces that recorded employment gains were the Western Cape (93 000), Mpumalanga (37 000), North West (36 000), and Northern Cape (17 000). The provinces with the largest employment decreases were recorded in Gauteng (54 000), KwaZulu-Natal (41 000), and the Eastern Cape (32 000) during the same period. Maluleke said youth aged 15 to 31 years old remained the most vulnerable group in the labour market, with unemployed youth increasing by 0,1 percent in the fourth quarter to 43,8% (4,6 million). Maluleke poured cold water on any suggestions that the country is not facing a widespread unemployment crisis, saying that between Q4:2015 and Q4:2025, the number of unemployed persons in South Africa increased from 5,2 million to 7,8 million.