South Africa, 11 December 2025 – South Africa’s latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) show that employment in the formal non‑agricultural sector increased slightly in the third quarter of 2025, but broader yearly declines highlight ongoing labour market challenges.
According to the report, 29 000 jobs were added between June and September 2025, bringing total formal employment to about 10.5 million. Growth was most notable in the community services sector, which added around 39 000 jobs, with more modest gains in trade and mining.
However, these quarterly gains were partly offset by losses in other industries. The business services sector shed approximately 12 000 jobs, while manufacturing lost 5 000 and construction lost 4 000 positions.
Despite the small quarterly increase, the year‑on‑year picture remains bleak. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the formal sector lost an estimated 79 000 jobs, indicating that the overall number of employed workers in this sector has declined compared with a year ago.
Part‑time employment did see stronger growth over the quarter, increasing by around 50 000 jobs, largely driven by community services.
Economists say the data reflects a fragile recovery, with sectoral shifts and persistent job losses underscoring the need for targeted economic interventions to support sustained job creation and reduce unemployment.
African News Agency
