Economy, jobs and prices in Eastern Cape, South Africa: official figures
47.5% of the labour force in Eastern Cape was unemployed in April-June 2026 (official definition), up from 39.5% a year earlier; the highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 33.6%).
What is the expanded unemployment rate in Eastern Cape?
Counting discouraged work-seekers and others who want work but did not search, the expanded unemployment rate in Eastern Cape was 54.1% in Q2 2026 (South Africa: 43.8%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many people have jobs in Eastern Cape?
1,346,000 people in Eastern Cape had jobs in April-June 2026, down 116,000 (7.9%) on a year earlier; nationally employment fell 0.4%.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Eastern Cape?
The biggest employers in Eastern Cape in Q2 2026 were community and social services (including government), with 382,000 jobs (28% of employment), and trade (shops, wholesale, hotels and restaurants), with 255,000 (19%). Agriculture employed 95,000.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyWhere do households in Eastern Cape get their income?
49% of households in Eastern Cape received income from salaries or wages in 2025 and 65% from social grants (South Africa: 62% and 51%); 18% received money sent by relatives.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow much do households in Eastern Cape spend each month?
37.2% of households in Eastern Cape spent less than R2,500 a month in 2025 and 14.7% spent R10,000 or more (South Africa: 31.6% and 21.1%); the share of low-spending households is 4th highest of the nine provinces.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many homes in Eastern Cape have electricity?
93.2% of households in Eastern Cape were connected to mains electricity in 2025, 5th highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 90.6%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many households in Eastern Cape have internet access?
74.5% of households in Eastern Cape had at least one member using the internet in 2025, the lowest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 85.6%); 11.6% had a fixed internet connection at home (South Africa: 20.6%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyMore figures
- 24.7% of workers in Eastern Cape were in the informal sector in Q2 2026 (332,000 people), 3rd highest of the nine provinces. Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copy
How Eastern Cape compares with other provinces
Unemployment rate (official), April-June 2026 (Q2 2026)
Eastern Cape ranks 1 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate (official), April-June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Cape | 47.5% |
| 2 | North West | 38.1% |
| 3 | Free State | 37.3% |
| 4 | Mpumalanga | 36.6% |
| 5 | Gauteng | 34.6% |
| 6 | KwaZulu-Natal | 32.5% |
| 7 | Limpopo | 32.0% |
Share of people aged 15-64 with a job (Q2 2026)
Eastern Cape ranks 9 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people aged 15-64 with a job |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Free State | 39.6% |
| 4 | Mpumalanga | 39.1% |
| 5 | Limpopo | 36.6% |
| 6 | Northern Cape | 36.3% |
| 7 | KwaZulu-Natal | 34.8% |
| 8 | North West | 30.6% |
| 9 | Eastern Cape | 28.9% |
Households connected to mains electricity (2025)
Eastern Cape ranks 5 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households connected to mains electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Northern Cape | 95.5% |
| 3 | Limpopo | 95.0% |
| 4 | Free State | 94.6% |
| 5 | Eastern Cape | 93.2% |
| 6 | KwaZulu-Natal | 92.1% |
| 7 | Mpumalanga | 91.2% |
| 8 | North West | 90.9% |
More on Eastern Cape: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · South Africa
Sources
- Statistics South Africa: General Household Survey 2025 (Statistical release P0318): Tables 2.2 and 14.1 and addendum tables by province (release as archived by DataFirst, UCT), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 69b5db681d83…)
- Statistics South Africa: Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Quarter 2: 2026 (Statistical release P0211): Tables D, E, 2.3, 3.2 and 3.4 (release as archived by DataFirst, UCT), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ccfdb081197b…)
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