SA loses 80 000 jobs in second quarter of 2025

THE South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) expressed "deep alarm" over Statistics South Africa's latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) for the second quarter of 2025, which revealed a continued deterioration in employment levels across key sectors.

- THABO MAKWAKWA

The QES report showed a troubling decline of 80000 jobs from March to June, bringing total employment figures down from 10.59 million to just over 10.5 million workers.

The job losses were most severe in community services, with 53000 fewer jobs, followed by trade (10000), manufacturing (9000), construction (7000), transport (2000), and business services (2000).

Although the mining and electricity sectors recorded slight gains of 2000 and 1000 jobs, respectively, these increases pale compared to the 229000 jobs lost year-on-year between June 2024 and June 2025.

Full-time employment decreased by 55000 jobs quarter-on-quarter, while part-time employment declined by 36000.

There are now more than 8.4 million unemployed South Africans, with nearly half of the working-age population excluded from meaningful employment.

In a statement yesterday, Saftu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi criticised South Africa's ongoing structural jobs crisis.