South Africa’s youth unemployment remains above the national figures.

Statistics SA says that the unemployment figure increased by one percent to 32.9% in the first quarter of this year and close to 300 000 jobs were lost between January and March in comparison to the fourth quarter of 2024.

Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said that the youth unemployment figures continued a decade-long trend of being above the national unemployment average.

Meanwhile, Stats SA’s Statistician and Director in the Social Statistics Chief Directorate, Solly Molayi has noted that the unemployment rate for early school leavers with other tertiary qualifications fall below the national average.

This is the same for youth with university qualifications. Stats SA focused on youth unemployment, noting that it is becoming more difficult for someone with only a matric pass to get a job.