UASA Media Release: 12 May 2026
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
South Africa’s unemployment rate worsened between the last quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, as the number of employed individuals decreased by 345,000, bringing the total to 16.8 million.
The increase in the unemployment rate by more than 1% is due to job losses across most sectors, combined with the entry of thousands of matriculants into the job market at the beginning of the year.
According to Stats SA, the unofficial unemployment rate came at 32.7% in the first quarter of the year. Sadly, the country’s unemployment rate remains among the highest in the world.
Statistics SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) also reported that seven out of ten sectors lost jobs in the first quarter of the year.
UASA is primarily concerned that the high unemployment crisis may worsen, as the country’s economic outlook is currently unstable, driven by high fuel prices and other challenges.
These economic crises might force more companies to let workers go as they struggle to cover operating costs amid high, unaffordable expenses.
In these challenging times, UASA continues to seek solutions through research and data using its South African Employment Report (SAER) and the UASA/BMR Employment Index.
The employment report and index provide valuable data and insights into employment trends, businesses, workplace conditions and labour market pressures affecting various sectors of the economy. This helps labour
understand the country’s employment dynamics and how to work with employers, stakeholders and business owners to develop solutions.
Sadly, the unemployment figures are not merely statistics; they represent millions of South Africans facing uncertainty, discouraged job seekers who have lost hope and workers trapped in vulnerable employment. Thus, UASA believes that everyone has a role to play in addressing the unemployment crisis.
The 2026 UASA SAER & UASA/BMR Employment Index will be published on 22 May 2026.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.