South African Unemployment Rate reflects the rate of currently unemployed residents to the total civilian labor force. The unemployed is the person aged between 15 and 64, who has no job at the time of the survey.
The growth of unemployment leads to a decrease in the incomes of individuals and therefore to a decrease in consumer activity. In addition, this increases the pressure on the state budget and reduces tax revenues. Therefore, higher than forecast readings are seen as negative for the South African economy and for ZAR quotes.