BUSINESS NEWS - The Western Cape's unemployment rate declined slightly to 19.4% in the third quarter of 2026, down from 19.5% in the previous quarter, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS).
The provincial rate remains considerably below South Africa's national unemployment rate of 33.7%.
The figures also show that the Western Cape has added 69 000 jobs over the past year, bringing total employment in the province to an estimated 2.88 million.
It was the only province to record year-on-year employment growth during the period.
The Western Cape also maintained the country's leading positions in unemployment, labour absorption and labour force participation rates.
Seven out of 10 economic sectors recorded employment gains, with construction leading the increases. The sector added a net 33 000 jobs compared with the same period last year.
Agriculture contributed a further 26 000 jobs, while the finance and services sectors recorded a combined net increase of 25 000.
Premier Alan Winde welcomed the decline in unemployment, saying the province needed to continue creating opportunities for residents to enter the economy and move out of poverty.
He said the latest figures reflected progress towards building a resilient and inclusive economy, although significant challenges remained.
Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, said investment in sectors such as agriculture, trade, tourism, manufacturing and infrastructure was contributing to employment growth.
He said the provincial government's focus remained on creating more jobs, expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs and ensuring that economic growth reached communities across the province.
The latest figures highlight the Western Cape's employment performance against a backdrop of persistently high national unemployment.
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