Fewer jobs in Q3 - again

QUARTERLY: TOTAL EMPLOYMENT DECREASED BY 2.7%, SAYS STATS SA

- Ina Opperman

The latest employment statistics for the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 show that there were fewer jobs in Q3 of 2024 than in Q3 of 2023. However, salaries paid to employees increased.

Total employment decreased by 133,000, or 1.2%, compared to the second quarter, from 10,738,000 jobs in June 2024 to 10,605,000 in September 2024, largely due to job losses in community services (-131,000 or -4.3%), business services (-15,000 or -0.6%), manufacturing (-4,000 or -0.3%), transport (-3,000 or -0.6%), mining (-2,000 or -0.4%), and electricity (-1,000 or -1.6%).

However, more jobs were created in trade (19,000, or 0.8%) and construction (4,000, or 0.7%).

According to Statistics SA, total employment decreased by 294,000, or 2.7%, between September 2023 and September 2024.

Full-time employment decreased by 14,000, or 0.1%, in the third quarter compared to the second quarter of the year, from 9,468,000 jobs in June 2024 to 9,454,000 in September 2024, largely due to a decrease in:

Business services (-22,000, or -1.0%);

Manufacturing (-5,000 or -0.4%);