The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) notes with deep concern the latest Quarterly
Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2026, released by Statistics South Africa (Stats
SA), which reports an official unemployment rate of 33.6%.
It is deeply concerning that South Africa has approximately 3.7 million discouraged job seekers.
This is a clear indication that millions of people are willing and able to work but are increasingly discouraged by the lack of employment opportunities.
FEDUSA emphasizes that unemployment in South Africa should be declared a state of emergency. The country cannot continue to experience one of the world’s highest unemployment rates without treating this crisis with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.
Unemployment is not merely a statistic; it is a reflection of the deepening inequality within our society.
Its impact is felt directly in households where families have little or no income and are forced to rely on social grants, donations and other forms of assistance to survive.
FEDUSA reiterates that South Africa has many of the necessary policies,programmes and resources to address unemployment and inequality.However, the critical challenge remains effective implementation.
FEDUSA emphasises that government cannot address the country’s unemployment crisis alone. Addressing unemployment requires a collective effort from government, business and organised labour.
Business has a critical role to play in creating and protecting jobs, developing skills, participating in
infrastructure development, and partnering with government to advance economic reforms. One of the key commitments of the Jobs Summit was to create and protect jobs by promoting economic growth, investment and industrial development, while supporting distressed firms and workers.
A moratorium on retrenchments can help reduce unemployment by protecting existing jobs during periods of economic hardships. However, it must be balanced with the financial sustainability of businesses.
FEDUSA therefore calls on government, business and all social partners to strengthen collaboration and urgently implement practical and sustainable measures to create decent employment opportunities, reduce inequality and restore hope to millions of South Africans.
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