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Key findings: P0211 - Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), 2nd Quarter 2025
The official unemployment
rate was 33,2% in the second quarter of 2025.
According to the QLFS Q2: 2025 results, there was an increase of 19 000 in the number of employed persons to 16,8 million, while there was an increase of 140 000 in the number of unemployed persons to 8,4 million. This resulted in an increase of 159 000 (up by 0,6%) in the labour force during the same period.
Discouraged work-seekers decreased by 28 000 (down by 0,8%), and the number of persons who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement remained unchanged between the first quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2025. This led to a decrease of 28 000 in the number of the not economically active population to 16,6 million.
The above changes in employment and unemployment resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0,3 of a percentage point from 32,9% in the first quarter of 2025 to 33,2% in the second quarter of 2025. The expanded unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2025 decreased by 0,2 of a percentage point to 42,9% when compared with the first quarter of 2025, which was 43,1%.
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- Sivuyile Mangxamba, Director:Media and Public Relations, Tel: +27 12 310 4732, Cell: +27 82 888 2372
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Subject area contacts
Economic StatsJoe de Beer (Deputy Director-General)012 310 8024 082 888 2600 joedb@statssa.gov.za Peter Perkins (Economist) 012 310 8389 082 883 9532 peterp@statssa.gov.za |
Social StatsGwen Lehloenya (Acting Deputy Director-General)012 310 8333 082 888 2323 gwenL@statssa.gov.za Neo Nghenavo (Director) 012 310 8047 082 888 2613 neon@statssa.gov.za |
| Topic | Contact | Alternative Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer price index (CPI), Producer price index (PPI), Unit value indices: exports / imports, Construction materials price indices |
Patrick Kelly (Chief Director) 012 310 8290 082 888 2248 patrickke@statssa.gov.za |
Marietjie Bennett (Director) 012 310 8077 082 888 2194 marietjieb@statssa.gov.za |
| Government finance: national and provincial government | Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za |
Elizabeth Makhafola (Director) 012 310 8977 082 888 9062 elizabethma@statssa.gov.za |
| Government finance: local government | Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za |
Malibongwe Mhemhe (Director) 012 310 6928 082 906 8964 malibongwem@statssa.gov.za |
| Supply and use tables, Satellite accounts, Regional GDP | Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za |
|
| Gross domestic product (GDP), production | Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za |
Bontlenyana Makhoba(Chief Economist) 012 310 8567 bontlenyanam@statssa.gov.za |
| Gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure | Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za |
Litshani Ligudu (Director) 012 310 4674 082 884 4279 litshanil@statssa.gov.za |
| Environmental-economic accounts | Gerhardt Bouwer (Chief Director) 012 310 8241 082 888 2409 gerhardb@statssa.gov.za |
Riaan Grobler (Director) 012 406 3474 084 515 2908 riaang@statssa.gov.za |
| Mining, manufacturing, electricity, capacity utilisation |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za |
Nicolai Claassen (Director) 012 310 8007 076 759 0200 nicolaic@statssa.gov.za |
| Retail, wholesale, motor, land transport |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za |
Keshnee Naidoo (Director) 012 310 8423 083 689 5341 keshneen@statssa.gov.za |
| Building, liquidations, civil cases for debt, food & beverages, tourist accommodation |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za |
Joyce Essel-Mensah (Director) 012 310 8255 082 888 2374 joycee@statssa.gov.za |
| Annual financial statistics (AFS) | Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za |
Amukelani Ngobeni (Director) 012 310 2938 082 677 4536 amukelanin@statssa.gov.za |
| Quarterly financial statistics (QFS) | Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za |
Krisseelan Govinden (Director) 012 310 4651 082 901 7960 krisseelang@statssa.gov.za |
| Structural industry statistics (large sample surveys of industries every 3 to 5 years; agriculture) |
Itani Magwaba (Chief Director) 012 337 6471 / 6254 082 905 5143 itanim@statssa.gov.za |
Tshepo Pekane (Director) 012 310 8191 083 675 8654 tshepop@statssa.gov.za |
| Population Statistics (Census and Community Survey) | Christine Khoza (Chief Director) 012 310 2185 071 670 2672 christinek@statssa.gov.za |
Angela Ngyende (Chief Statistician) 012 310 4699 079 519 3212 angelan@statssa.gov.za |
| Demography-Mid-year Population Estimates | Diego Iturralde (Chief Director) 012 310 8922 082 413 2661 diegoi@statssa.gov.za |
Chantal Munthree (Chief Statistician) 012 310 6648 082 888 2289 chantalMu@statssa.gov.za |
| Labour Statistics- Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) | Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za |
Desiree Manamela (Director) 012 310 2145 071 681 2768 DesireeM@statssa.gov.za Malerato Mosiane (Chief Statistician) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za |
| Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) | Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 8882449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za |
Matlapane Masupye (Acting Director) 012 310 8168 082 317 5340 matlapanem@statssa.gov.za |
| Tourism Statistics (Domestic Tourism Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Brenda Mosima (Director) 012 310 8168 082 906 7925 BrendaMo@statssa.gov.za |
| Crime and Safety Statistics (Victims of Crime Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Joseph Lukhwareni (Director) 012 310 8485 082 888 2486 JosephL@statssa.gov.za |
| Service Delivery Statistics (General Household Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Niel Roux (Director) 012 310 2939 082 904 7919 NielR@statssa.gov.za |
| Transport Statistics (National Travel Survey) | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Solly Molayi (Director) 012 310 6442 083 440 7035 SollyMol@statssa.gov.za |
| Gender Statistics | Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za |
Tshepo Mabela (Director) 012 310 8587 082 941 9383 TshepoMab@statssa.gov.za |
| Mortality and Causes of Deaths | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za |
| Tourism and Migration | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za |
| Registered Births | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za |
| Marriages and Divorces | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za |
| Living Conditions Survey | Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za |
| Income and Expenditure Survey | Nozipho Shabalala (Chief Director ) 012 310 6994 082 904 8896 Noziphos@statssa.gov.za |
Werner Ruch (Director) 012 310 6318 082 906 7967 wernerr@statssa.gov.za |
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