The Western Cape has recorded a further decline in unemployment, with new data showing that the province’s unemployment rate has dropped to a five-year low. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa, the province’s unemployment rate fell to 18.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025, substantially lower than the national unemployment rate of 31.4%.
Over the past three months, the Western Cape added an average of 31 000 jobs per month, according to the survey results.
Agriculture Among Top Job Creators
For the agricultural sector, the latest figures provide positive news. Agriculture was one of the three strongest job-creating sectors in the province, adding 22 000 jobs year-on-year, alongside trade and construction.
These three sectors were identified as the main drivers of provincial job growth in the fourth quarter of 2025. Agriculture’s contribution highlights its continued importance to employment in the Western Cape, particularly in rural areas.
Labour Force Participation Remains Strong
Another key indicator reflected in the QLFS data is the Western Cape’s labour force participation rate, which stood at 68.8% in the fourth quarter of 2025. This rate increased year-on-year and remains one of the highest in the country.
By comparison, the national labour force participation rate was 59.3%, which declined over the same period. This reinforces the Western Cape’s position as a province with stronger job prospects and economic activity.
Youth Employment Shows Positive Shift
The Western Cape also recorded an improvement in youth employment outcomes. The province’s youth NEET rate—which measures people aged 15 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training—declined by 6.6% quarter-on-quarter.
The Western Cape was one of only three provinces to record a decrease in this indicator and was the only province where the reduction was larger than that of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo combined.
Momentum Built on Partnerships
Provincial leadership has attributed the improved employment figures to efforts aimed at building an enabling environment for job creation. These efforts include collaboration between government and the private sector to strengthen confidence and support economic growth.
The Western Cape contributed 30% of South Africa’s total job gains in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the QLFS data.
What It Means for Farmers
For farmers and agri-business owners, the latest labour market data point to agriculture’s continued role as a key contributor to job creation in the Western Cape. While challenges remain, the figures show that the province continues to lead the country in employment performance, with agriculture playing a significant role in that outcome.