UASA Media Release: 13 May 2025
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Stats SA today indicates that South Africa’s official unemployment rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of one percentage point compared to the previous quarter. Economists had expected only a modest rise of 0.2 percentage points.
In the first quarter, employed workers decreased by 291,000, dropping from 17.1 million in Q4 2024 to 16.8 million. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers increased by 237,000 to 8.2 million, leading to a decrease of 54,000 (down by 0.2%) in the overall labour force during the same period.
The number of discouraged work-seekers increased by 7,000 (up by 0.2%), while the count of individuals who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement rose by 177,000 (up by 1.4%). This contributed to an overall increase of 184,000 in the not economically active population, which now totals 16.7 million.
The expanded unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2025 rose by 1.2 percentage points to 43.1%, compared to 41.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Stats SA reported that employment increased in several industries: Transport (67,000), Finance (60,000), and Utilities (35,000). However, job losses were noted in Trade (194,000), Construction (119,000), Private Households (68,000), Community and Social Services (45,000), and Mining (35,000).
Sadly, youth unemployment remains a significant concern, particularly for those aged 15 to 34, who are exceptionally vulnerable in the labour market. The first quarter of 2025 results show that the total number of unemployed youth increased by 151,000 to 4.8 million, while employed youth declined by 153,000 to 5.7 million. Consequently, the youth unemployment rate rose from 44.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025.
These latest QLFS figures reflect the persistent structural challenges within South Africa’s labour market, highlighting vulnerabilities such as widespread job losses, growing youth unemployment and minimal absorption of discouraged work-seekers.
Considering these concerning developments, the upcoming 2025 UASA South African Employment Report (SAER) and the 3rd UASA/BMR Employment Index aims to provide a deeper analysis of the forces reshaping employment, with a special focus on the accelerating impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Machine Learning across key industries. By
examining how these emerging technologies intersect with job creation, displacement and skills requirements, the UASA SAER and Employment Index will offer essential insights to support evidence-based policymaking and strategic planning in the workplace. UASA remains committed to equipping its members and stakeholders with the knowledge needed to navigate this complex and rapidly evolving labour landscape.
The UASA SAER and 3rd UASA/BMR Employment Index will be available on the UASA website: www.uasa.org.za on Friday 16 May 2025.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.