While the political transition to democratic rule in South Africa was smooth and rapid, the economic transition has been slow and difficult. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the labour market. Job creation has not matched growing labour supply and the unemployment rate continues to rise. This article attempts to document and identify the key trends in labour force participation, unemployment and employment, so as to better understand the factors that drive the performance of the labour market. (Contains 10 tables, 6 figures and 2 notes.)