Anchor Capital: South Africa 2Q26 unemployment rate rises to 33.6%

• Anchor Capital flagged renewed strain in South Africa’s labor market in 2Q26, with the official unemployment rate rising to 33.6%.
• Unemployed people increased by 345,000 to 8.5 million; employment slipped by 16,000 to 16.7 million as the labor force grew by 329,000.
• Formal employment fell by 41,000 to 12.1 million; informal jobs rose by 34,000 to 3.6 million, pointing to deteriorating job quality.
• Youth unemployment climbed to 47.4%, with unemployed 15-34 year olds up 264,000 to 5 million; youth employment fell by 40,000.
• Risks cited include weak domestic demand, structural constraints, geopolitical-driven cost pressures; job creation seen constrained into the second half.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Anchor Capital (Pty) Ltd published the original content used to generate this news brief on August 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.