{"id":19526,"date":"2026-05-12T15:48:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T13:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19526"},"modified":"2026-05-12T15:48:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T13:48:44","slug":"south-africas-youth-and-the-labour-market-in-q1-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19526","title":{"rendered":"South Africa\u2019s Youth and the Labour Market in Q1 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), South Africa\u2019s working-age population stood at 42,2 million individuals aged 15-64 in the first quarter of 2026, up by 121 000 compared to quarter 4 of 2025. This represents the backbone of South Africa\u2019s economy, yet its true potential is concentrated in a notably young demographic. Of the 42,2 million individuals in the working-age population, 21,0 million (i.e. 49,7%) were aged 15-34 years. Despite their large share of the population, youth labour market outcomes remain unfavourable. In Q1:2026, 5,6 million young people aged 15-34 were employed, while 4,7 million were unemployed and the remaining 10,6 million were outside the labour force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the national unemployment rate stood at 32,7% in Q1:2026, the burden was disproportionately carried by the youth, with those aged 15-24 facing the highest unemployment rate at 60,9%, followed by those aged 25-34 at 40,6%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young people are not only more likely to be unemployed but are also far less likely to be in employment relative to their share of the working-age population. Their absorption and participation rates continue to be lower than those of adults, while their unemployment rate remains significantly higher, creating a persistent disadvantage for the youth. The absorption rate, which measures the share of the working-age population that is employed, highlights an unmet need for youth inclusion in the labour market. Among those aged 15-24, the absorption rate was 10,1%, the lowest of any age group in Q1:2026. While the participation rate for youth aged 25-34 was high at 72,0%, with an absorption rate of 42,8% pointing to a gap of 29,2 percentage points between those actively participating in the labour market and those who were employed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The challenges facing young people extend beyond those actively searching for work and include a growing share of those who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). While unemployment rates capture those who are looking and available for work, the NEET rate provides a broader measure of youth who are disengaged from both the labour market and the education system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Q1:2026, approximately 3,9 million out of 10,3 million (or 37,6%) young people aged 15-24 were NEET. The year-on-year comparison shows a rising vulnerability among young people. The NEET rate for both the 15-24 years and the broader 15-34 years age groups increased by 0,5 of a percentage point between Q1:2025 and Q1:2026, reaching 37,6 % and 45,6% in Q1:2026, respectively. More than four in ten young people aged 15-34 were not in employment, education or training in Q1:2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Young women bear a heavier burden<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NEET burden is not shared equally, as young women consistently face a higher risk of disengagement than young men. In Q1:2026, 39,2% of young females aged 15-24 years were NEET. This is a 1,7 percentage points increase compared to Q1: 2025. Over the same period, the NEET rate for young men fell by 0,7 of a percentage point from 36,7% in Q1:2025 to 36,0% in Q1:2026. The female NEET rate has remained consistently above the male rate for years with the gap reaching 3,2 percentage points in Q1:2026. While young men are edging toward the labour market, young women are moving further away from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where young people work and the occupations they hold<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young people aged 15-34 who are employed remain concentrated in service-related industries and low to semi-skilled occupations. In Q1:2026, trade was the largest employer of youth, accounting for nearly one in four jobs (23,6%), followed by community and social services (19,9%) and finance (18,5%). In terms of occupations, elementary occupations accounted for the largest share of youth employment at 24,6%, followed by sales and services occupations (19,2%) and clerks (13,8%). By contrast, relatively fewer young people were employed in higher-skilled occupations such as managers (4,7%), professionals (6,1%) and technicians (9,1%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For more information, download the QLFS Q1:2026 report here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), South Africa\u2019s working-age population stood at 42,2 million individuals aged 15-64 in the first quarter of 2026, up by 121 000 compared to quarter 4 of 2025. This represents the backbone of South Africa\u2019s economy, yet its true potential is concentrated in a notably young demographic. Of the   read more »<\/a><\/p>\n

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