Western Cape Records Yet Another Decrease in Unemployment Rate

The Western Cape’s job creation efforts continue to show encouraging results.

The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) data for the province shows that the region’s unemployment rate has dropped to 19.4% in Quarter 3 of 2026, down from 19.5% in the previous quarter.

This is well below the national unemployment rate of 33.7%.  

The Western Cape is home to 69,000 more jobs than it was a year ago, with total employment in the province estimated at 2.88 million.

When compared with the same time last year, the Western Cape is also the only province to experience a growth in employment. 

The province continues to lead the nation in the unemployment, absorption, and labour force participation rates. 

Seven out of ten sectors recorded job gains, with the construction sector recording a net increase of 33 000 jobs compared with last year. The agriculture and finance and services sectors followed, adding 26 000 and 25 000 net jobs respectively. 

“We welcome this reduction in the unemployment rate. We must work harder than ever to keep getting more residents out of poverty and into the provincial economy,” said Premier Alan Winde.

The Premier added, “Despite significant challenges, we are making progress in building a resilient and inclusive economy that creates more opportunities for our residents. There is still much more to do, and we are determined to do it. The sustained success we see over successive sets of employment stats clearly shows that we are on the right path. The Western Cape has become emblematic of what can be achieved when government creates an enabling environment for business and allows opportunities to grow and flourish for our residents.”

“These figures demonstrate that sustained investment in growth-enabling sectors such as agriculture, trade, tourism, manufacturing, and infrastructure is delivering tangible results for the residents of the Western Cape. While we welcome this further decline in unemployment, our focus remains on creating more jobs, expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs, and ensuring that economic growth reaches every community across the province,” said Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism.