South Africa’s unemployment rate saw a slight decline at the end of 2024 but remains among the highest globally, as the country struggles with the impact of U.S. aid cuts, official data revealed on Tuesday.
According to StatsSA, the jobless rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Most of the job gains came from manufacturing, trade, and social services, marking the lowest unemployment rate since the third quarter of 2023 and a notable drop from the 35.3% peak recorded during pandemic lockdowns in 2021.
However, the “expanded” unemployment rate—which includes those too discouraged to seek work—remained at nearly 42%, offering little relief to the nation of over 63 million people.
The job market has seen gradual improvement since the formation of a government of national unity last year.
But these gains face fresh challenges after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly froze aid to South Africa, fueling concerns over whether he might also terminate the country’s preferential trade status under key U.S. agreements.
