Our take on the latest Labour market statistics (Wed 5 Nov 2025)
Unemployment rate edges up to 5.3%
Youth NEET rate rises to 13.2% (annual average)
Labour cost growth slows to 2.1%pa
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Labour market statistics
Higher participation drives unemployment increase
Wed 4 Feb 2026
Quarterly
5.4% Unemployment rate December 2025 quarter (sa)70.5% Participation rate December 2025 quarter (sa)2.0%pa Labour Cost Index Year to December 2025Labour market statistics
Unemployment rate rises to 5.2%
Wed 6 Aug 2025
Quarterly
Unemployment rate edges up to 5.2%
Employment down 0.9% from June 2024Labour cost growth slowed to 2.4%paLabour market statistics
Unemployment rate unchanged, weakness still evident
Wed 7 May 2025
Quarterly
Unemployment rate stays at 5.1%Employment down 0.7% from March 2024Labour cost growth slowed to 2.9%pa