Employment stats show slight jobs growth but declines in full-time work

SOUTH Africa recorded a marginal uptick in jobs in the third quarter of 2025, with total employment rising by 29 000 jobs (0.3%) between June and September, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Thursday.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

TOTAL employment increased by 29 000 or 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 520 000 in June 2025 to 10 549 000 in September 2025; however, year-on-year employment indicated a decrease of -0.7%.

(OUPA MOKOENA)

However, employment was still 0.7% lower year-on-year, highlighting the economy's ongoing labour market fragility.

According to Stats SA's Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), the quarterly gains were driven largely by increases in community services (+39 000 or 1.4%), trade (+6 000 or 0.3%), and mining (+5 000 or 1.1%). Employment levels in electricity and transport were unchanged.

Declines were reported in business services (-12 000 or -0.5%), manufacturing (-5 000 or -0.4%), and construction (-4 000 or -0.7%).

Overall, total employment fell by 79 000 jobs year-on-year between September 2024 and September 2025.

Full-time employment shrank by 21 000 jobs quarter-on-quarter to 9.4 million, mainly due to reductions in business services, manufacturing, community services and trade. Mining and construction were the only sectors to record small increases in full-time positions.