The Statistics South Africa latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows the Western Cape’s unemployment rate has dropped to 18.1%, the lowest in the country.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Ivan Meyer have welcomed the figures, describing them as proof that the province’s job creation strategy is gaining momentum.
According to the data for the fourth quarter of 2025, the province added an average of 31 000 jobs per month over the last three months of the year. The unemployment rate declined by 1.5 percentage points year-on-year, reaching a five-year low.
At 18.1%, the Western Cape’s unemployment rate is substantially lower than the national rate of 31.4%.
Seven out of ten sectors recorded year-on-year job gains. Trade led the way with 48 000 new jobs, followed by Agriculture and Construction, which each added 22 000 jobs.
The province also maintained one of the highest labour force participation rates in the country at 68.8%, an increase year-on-year. This is well above the national rate of 59.3%, which declined over the same period.
The Western Cape’s youth NEET rate – referring to those aged 15 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training – dropped by 6.6% quarter-on-quarter. The province was one of only three to record a decline in this indicator and achieved a bigger reduction than the other two provinces combined.
Winde said the figures show that young people in the Western Cape have the best chance of accessing quality education and sustainable employment opportunities. He added that while progress is being made, much more work still needs to be done to reduce unemployment further.
Meyer said the province continues to lead South Africa in job creation, contributing 30% of the country’s total job gains in the fourth quarter of 2025. He said strong growth in trade, agriculture and construction is driving economic momentum and creating opportunities for more residents.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Ivan Meyer have welcomed the figures, describing them as proof that the province’s job creation strategy is gaining momentum.
According to the data for the fourth quarter of 2025, the province added an average of 31 000 jobs per month over the last three months of the year. The unemployment rate declined by 1.5 percentage points year-on-year, reaching a five-year low.
At 18.1%, the Western Cape’s unemployment rate is substantially lower than the national rate of 31.4%.
Seven out of ten sectors recorded year-on-year job gains. Trade led the way with 48 000 new jobs, followed by Agriculture and Construction, which each added 22 000 jobs.
The province also maintained one of the highest labour force participation rates in the country at 68.8%, an increase year-on-year. This is well above the national rate of 59.3%, which declined over the same period.
The Western Cape’s youth NEET rate – referring to those aged 15 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training – dropped by 6.6% quarter-on-quarter. The province was one of only three to record a decline in this indicator and achieved a bigger reduction than the other two provinces combined.
Winde said the figures show that young people in the Western Cape have the best chance of accessing quality education and sustainable employment opportunities. He added that while progress is being made, much more work still needs to be done to reduce unemployment further.
Meyer said the province continues to lead South Africa in job creation, contributing 30% of the country’s total job gains in the fourth quarter of 2025. He said strong growth in trade, agriculture and construction is driving economic momentum and creating opportunities for more residents.