Eastern Cape unemployment climbs to 47.5%

The Eastern Cape’s official unemployment rate rose to 47.5% during the second quarter of 2026, according to figures cited by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

DA Eastern Cape Legislature leader Andrew Whitfield said the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey showed that the provincial unemployment rate had increased from 44.6% in the first quarter and 39.5% during the corresponding period last year.

According to Whitfield, the Eastern Cape lost 116,000 jobs over the past year.

Although the number of employed residents grew by 13,000 between the first and second quarters, the provincial labour force expanded by 160,000 people—from 2.405 million to 2.565 million.

Whitfield said this indicated that many residents who had previously been outside the active labour force had started looking for employment, but the provincial economy was unable to accommodate them.

He said official unemployment outside Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay had reached 56.5%, while the broader unemployment measure stood at 63.2%.

“The Eastern Cape does not have a shortage of people willing to work. It has a shortage of jobs, investment, and functioning local economies capable of creating opportunity,” Whitfield said.

He linked the unemployment situation to continued outward migration, claiming that nearly one million people had moved from the Eastern Cape to other provinces over the past decade in search of employment and better opportunities.

Whitfield argued that reliable water and electricity services, maintained roads, efficient planning systems and properly managed municipalities were necessary to attract investment and create employment.

The DA intends requesting a debate in the Eastern Cape Legislature on the province’s economic decline and migration. According to Whitfield, the proposed debate would seek to develop a strategy to attract investment, retain skilled residents and create jobs.