South Africa’s latest unemployment data has shown that job losses are not evenly spread across the country, with two provinces standing out as the hardest hit in the first quarter of 2026.
According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), total employment fell by 345 000 people compared to the previous quarter in 2025, but the impact was concentrated in specific regions.
Two SA provinces stood out
The data showed that Gauteng and North West recorded some of the steepest declines, with job losses of 67 000 and 80 000, respectively.
Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, continues to feel pressure across multiple sectors, particularly in construction, transport and community services.
The province’s slowdown is significant given its role in driving national employment trends.
North West, meanwhile, saw the sharpest provincial decline, reflecting ongoing weakness in mining-linked employment and related industries.
KZN bucks national trend
Other provinces also recorded notable unemployment increases, including Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, each shedding tens of thousands of jobs over the same period.
KwaZulu-Natal, however, was the only province to record a slight increase in employment, adding around 6 000 jobs, offering a rare positive signal in an otherwise weak labour market.
