Youth unemployment remains high despite drop in national average

Youth unemployment remains alarmingly high despite a drop in the official unemployment rate.

The national average has dropped to 31.9% in quarter three, from 33.2% in the previous one.

ALSO READ: Unemployment decreased in 7 provinces between Q2 & Q3 of 2025 - Stats SA

But Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said young people aged 15 to 24 years are still most affected by joblessness.

Statistician General at Stats SA Risenga Maluleke released the latest quarterly labour force survey on Tuesday.

“Young people remain vulnerable to the labour market. When we look at those aged 15-24 years, the unemployment rate is sitting at 58,5%, followed by those aged 25-34 years with an unemployment rate at 38,4%.”

Maluleke said in terms of the population category, black people still bear the brunt of unemployment.

“The black Africans, sitting with an unemployment rate of 35,8%, are the ones with the highest unemployment rate in the country and higher than the national rate. Those that are lower than the national average lowest being the white population, followed by the Indian population, followed by the coloured population.”

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