As the cost of living rises and job prospects shrink, South Africans are facing one of their toughest battles yet—finding stable employment.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is feeling the pressure too, especially after the latest unemployment statistics revealed another jump in joblessness.

Unemployment Figures Paint a Grim Picture

According to data released this week by Statistics South Africa, the unemployment rate has climbed again—from 31.9% at the end of 2024 to a troubling 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025.

That means nearly 300,000 more people are now out of work.

Ramaphosa, speaking during the ANC’s Northern Cape conference in Kimberley, didn’t sugarcoat the situation.

“Unemployment continues to weigh heavily on us.

It’s one of the most serious issues we’re dealing with,” he said.

Tackling the Root Causes of Economic Stagnation

The president admitted that South Africa’s sluggish economic growth is a major roadblock to fixing the job crisis.

He stressed the need to unlock the country’s economic potential and remove the barriers that are slowing things down.

“We’ve got to tackle the structural challenges head-on.

The private sector can only create more jobs if we clear the path for growth,” Ramaphosa explained.

That includes improving conditions for businesses and reworking outdated systems that are making it hard to scale up employment.

Supporting Both Youth and Older Job Seekers

Ramaphosa also highlighted how unemployment is hitting South Africans across the board—from young school leavers to adults over 35.

“We can’t only focus on youth employment,” he said.

“We need to make sure older South Africans are also able to re-enter the job market and earn a living.”

To that end, the government is investing in public employment programs that aim to create work opportunities for people of all ages.

A Commitment to Long-Term Change

Despite the setbacks, Ramaphosa insists that job creation remains a top priority for his administration.

“We are paying attention to this problem,” he said.

“Our goal is to create an economy that works for everyone.”

But with unemployment on the rise, many are wondering—what more can really be done to turn things around?