Job insecurity takes psychological toll on South African workers

Unemployment in South Africa reached 8.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, up by 345,000 from the previous quarter. Employment fell by 16,000 to 16.7 million, while the official unemployment rate rose from 32.7% to 33.6%. A South African Depression and Anxiety Group survey of 963 people in 2024 found that 38% feared losing their jobs and 75% continued thinking about work outside working hours. More than half of respondents had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, including depression, stress, generalised anxiety disorder or burnout.