Economy, jobs and prices in Free State, South Africa: official figures
37.3% of the labour force in Free State was unemployed in April-June 2026 (official definition), down from 38.5% a year earlier; 3rd highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 33.6%).
What is the expanded unemployment rate in Free State?
Counting discouraged work-seekers and others who want work but did not search, the expanded unemployment rate in Free State was 44.0% in Q2 2026 (South Africa: 43.8%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many people have jobs in Free State?
769,000 people in Free State had jobs in April-June 2026, up 3,000 (0.4%) on a year earlier; nationally employment fell 0.4%.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Free State?
The biggest employers in Free State in Q2 2026 were community and social services (including government), with 190,000 jobs (25% of employment), and trade (shops, wholesale, hotels and restaurants), with 153,000 (20%). Agriculture employed 71,000.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyWhere do households in Free State get their income?
57% of households in Free State received income from salaries or wages in 2025 and 62% from social grants (South Africa: 62% and 51%); 16% received money sent by relatives.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow much do households in Free State spend each month?
41.8% of households in Free State spent less than R2,500 a month in 2025 and 15.2% spent R10,000 or more (South Africa: 31.6% and 21.1%); the share of low-spending households is 2nd highest of the nine provinces.
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many homes in Free State have electricity?
94.6% of households in Free State were connected to mains electricity in 2025, 4th highest of the nine provinces (South Africa: 90.6%).
Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copyHow many households in Free State have internet access?
83.1% of households in Free State had at least one member using the internet in 2025, 4th 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
- 21.5% of workers in Free State were in the informal sector in Q2 2026 (165,000 people), 4th lowest of the nine provinces. Source: Statistics South Africa · saved copy
How Free State compares with other provinces
Unemployment rate (official), April-June 2026 (Q2 2026)
Free State ranks 3 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)
Free State ranks 3 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people aged 15-64 with a job |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Cape | 54.6% |
| 2 | Gauteng | 43.9% |
| 3 | Free State | 39.6% |
| 4 | Mpumalanga | 39.1% |
| 5 | Limpopo | 36.6% |
| 6 | Northern Cape | 36.3% |
| 7 | KwaZulu-Natal | 34.8% |
Households connected to mains electricity (2025)
Free State ranks 4 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households connected to mains electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Cape | 96.5% |
| 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% |
More on Free State: 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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