Between April and June, the jobless rate declined by 0.6 of a percentage point over the first quarter to 33.9 percent of the workforce, the official data agency said.

In the first quarter, unemployment fell to 34.5 after 35.3 percent at the end of 2021.

StatsSA said there was a net quarterly gain of 648,000 jobs, with the biggest increases in community and social services, trade, finance and construction.

Poverty, inequality and joblessness run high in South Africa, nearly three decades after the end of apartheid.

The country's high unemployment rate has fueled protests and anti-foreigner sentiment.