13/08/2026
UNEMPLOYMENT RISES DESPITE DEPORTATIONS: DATA CHALLENGES CLAIMS THAT FOREIGNERS ARE TAKING SOUTH AFRICAN JOBS
Despite the removal of nearly 70,000 foreign nationals from South Africa amid claims that foreigners are responsible for rising unemployment and the loss of jobs, the latest employment figures for the second quarter of 2026 appear to challenge that narrative.
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa shows that unemployment increased during the period, even as employment opportunities continued to decline.
During the second quarter of 2026, the number of employed people in South Africa fell by 16,000, bringing total employment to 16.7 million. At the same time, the expanding labour force contributed to a 345,000-person increase in the number of strictly unemployed people, pushing the official unemployment rate to 33.6%.
The figures raise further questions about the long-standing argument that foreign nationals are the primary cause of South Africa's unemployment crisis.
Major Job Losses Across Key Sectors
Employment losses drove the overall decline of 16,000 jobs in seven of the ten industries tracked in the survey.
The hardest-hit sectors included:
• Community and Social Services: 57,000 jobs lost
• Mining: 26,000 jobs lost
• Agriculture: 15,000 jobs lost
• Manufacturing: 15,000 jobs lost
• Utilities: 10,000 jobs lost
However, job gains in several sectors helped to limit what could have been a far greater decline. The Trade sector added 70,000 jobs, while Construction recorded an increase of 39,000 jobs and Finance added 11,000.
A More Complex Unemployment Crisis
The latest figures suggest that South Africa's unemployment crisis cannot simply be explained by the presence of foreign nationals in the country.
While immigration remains a politically and socially sensitive issue, the QLFS data points to a far more complex labour market challenge involving job losses across major industries, economic pressures and business closures.
The closure of businesses, including businesses owned and operated by foreign nationals, may also have unintended consequences for South African workers. When such businesses shut down, South Africans employed by them can also lose their livelihoods.
The latest employment statistics therefore add to the growing debate over whether targeting foreign nationals will solve South Africa's unemployment crisis. The data suggests that the country's joblessness problem may require broader economic solutions focused on stimulating business growth, protecting existing jobs, supporting investment and creating sustainable employment opportunities for all South Africans.
The figures challenge the simple claim that removing foreigners automatically creates jobs for South Africans. South Africa's unemployment crisis appears to be driven by deeper structural and economic problems that require more comprehensive solutions.
Dansaki Digital Network DDN
