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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTwo provinces are in trouble<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Across the provinces, the differences are notable. The Western Cape continues to have the lowest official unemployment rate in the country at 19.5%, which remains the best-performing province for over a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Northern Cape follows at 28.7%, while KwaZulu-Natal recorded rates of 32.5% and Limpopo recorded 32%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the situation looks much worse in the North West and the Eastern Cape. The North West recorded the largest increase in unemployment of the two provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Eastern Cape saw a 0.3 percentage-point change from the first quarter of 2026, while the North West noted a 1.2% increase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, under the new expanded definition, the North West saw a massive 17.9 percentage-point difference between the combined rate of unemployment and potential LF and official unemployment rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The North West recorded an expanded unemployment rate of 56.0%. This means the North West has overtaken the Eastern Cape as having the most people unemployed than working in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Eastern Cape recorded an expanded unemployment rate of 54.1%. By contrast, the Western Cape\u2019s expanded unemployment rate is recorded at 26.1%, showing that its economy remains relatively stable and better able to create jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past ten years, the unemployment rate in the Western Cape has consistently remained below South Africa’s national average, while the Eastern Cape has consistently recorded unemployment rates above the national level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n