Young South Africans without work experience are significantly less likely to find employment, Statistics South Africa data shows.
Image: Nicola Mawson | IOL
Young South Africans remain significantly less likely to be employed than older adults, with new Statistics South Africa data highlighting the scale of the country’s deepening youth employment crisis.
According to Statistics South Africa, 5.6 million young people aged between 15 and 34 were employed in the first quarter of 2026, while 4.7 million were unemployed and another 10.6 million were outside the labour force altogether.
In other words, for every young person with a job, 2.7 don’t.
The data shows that 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,” said the agency.
South Africa’s overall unemployment rate was at 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, but youth unemployment remained substantially higher. Among people aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate reached 60.9%, while unemployment among those aged 25 to 34 stood at 40.6%.
Statistics South Africa, which measures the proportion of the working-age population who is employed, highlighted the extent of youth exclusion from the labour market.
For young people aged 15 to 24, the rate of absorption into the economy was just 10.1% in the first quarter of 2026, the lowest of any age category. There is, however, a better rate for those 25-34 at 42.8%.
This does indicate a gap of 29.2 percentage points between those actively participating in the labour market and those who were employed, Statistics South Africa said.
The labour market rate by age group.
Image: Statistics South Africa
The agency also warned that a growing share of young South Africans were becoming disconnected from both work and education.
According to Statistics South Africa, 37.6% of people aged 15 to 24 were classified as not in employment, education or training, commonly referred to as NEET. For the broader 15 to 34 age group, the NEET rate reached 45.6%.
That means more than four in every 10 young South Africans aged 15 to 34 were neither working nor studying during the first quarter of the year.
The burden was also not evenly shared.
Statistics South Africa said young women remained more likely than young men to be excluded from employment or education. Among females aged 15 to 24, the NEET rate rose to 39.2% in the first quarter of 2026, while the rate for young men declined to 36%.
The report also showed many unemployed young people were still struggling to enter the labour market for the first time. In a separate youth labour market analysis published last year, Statistics South Africa found that nearly six in 10 unemployed young people had no previous work experience.
“Without experience, youth struggle to get hired – yet without being hired, they cannot gain experience,” the agency said.
Young people who are employed also remain concentrated in lower-skilled and service-sector jobs.
According to Statistics South Africa, trade accounted for the largest share of youth employment at 23.6%, followed by community and social services at 19.9% and finance at 18.5%. Elementary occupations accounted for the biggest share of youth jobs at 24.6%.
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