South Africa’s employment sector sheds 80,000 jobs as key industries feel pressure
South Africa’s formal employment sector recorded a decline of 80,000 jobs between December 2025 and March 2026, according to the latest Quarterly Employment Statistics report.
Statistics South Africa's Director of Quarterly Employment Statistics, Matlapane Masupye, said total employment decreased from 10,548,000 in December 2025 to 10,468,000 in March 2026.
Stats SA attributes the decline mainly to job losses in community services and trade.
Community services recorded the largest decrease, losing 53 000 jobs, while trade declined by 40 000 jobs.
At the same time, transport and electricity also recorded decreases of 3 000 and 1 000 jobs respectively.
However, Masupye reported that some sectors reported employment growth during the same period.
“There were increases reported by the food industries, manufacturing and business services with 7 000 each, mining 2 000 and construction 1 000.”
FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT FIGURES DROP
Full-time jobs decreased by 74 000 between December 2025 and March 2026.
Masupye said full-time employment declined from more than 9 400 000 in December 2025 to 9 409,000 in March 2026.
“This was due to decreases in the food industries, trade, community services, transport, construction and manufacturing,” he said.
Trade recorded the largest full-time employment decline at 27 000 jobs, while community services and transport each lost 3 000 jobs.
Construction and manufacturing recorded decreases of 1000 jobs each.
Despite the losses, business services and mining recorded increases in full-time employment, gaining 8 000 and 2 000 jobs respectively.
“Year on year, gross earnings increased by 51,4 billion between March 2025 and March 2026," Masupye added.
PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT ALSO DECLINED
Part-time workers were also affected, with part-time employment declining by 56 000 jobs during the quarter.
According to Masupye, part-time employment decreased from 1 115,000 in December 2025 to 1 059,000 in March 2026.
The decrease was due to decreases in the food industries, community services, trade, business services, transport, and electricity.
Community services accounted for the biggest decline in part-time employment, losing 50,000 jobs, while trade recorded a decline of 13,000.
Manufacturing and construction were among the sectors that recorded increases, adding 8,000 and 2,000 part-time jobs respectively.
Compared with March 2025, part-time employment declined by 73 000 jobs.
Earnings decline, but average pay increases.
The decline in employment also affected total earnings paid to employees.
Masupye said gross earnings decreased by R43.4 billion between December 2025 and March 2026, falling from R1.083 trillion rand to R1.043 trillion.
“This was due to decreases in the food industries, manufacturing, community services, trade, construction, electricity and transport,” he said.
However, business services and mining recorded increases in gross earnings.
Despite the quarterly decline, total gross earnings were higher year on year, increasing by R51.4 billion between March 2025 and March 2026.
Average monthly earnings also increased, rising by 0.9% from 29 728 rand in November 2025 to 29 997 rand in February 2026.
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