South Africa’s labour market has weakened further, with new data showing job losses across key sectors, a sharp drop in bonuses, and uneven performance in earnings.
The latest labour market update shows that “total employment decreased by 80 000 or -0,8% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 548 000 in December 2025 to 10 468 000 in March 2026.”
The decline was driven largely by services-related industries. The report states that this was “due to decreases in community services (-53 000 or -1,9%), trade (-40 000 or -1,7%), transport (-3 000 or -0,6%), and electricity (-1 000 or -1,5%).”
While most sectors recorded losses, a few pockets of growth softened the blow. According to the release, “there were increases reported by manufacturing (7 000 or 0,6%), business services (7 000 or 0,3%), mining (2 000 or 0,4%) and construction (1 000 or 0,2%).”
Full-time employment also declined. It is also noted that full-time employment decreased by 24 000 or -0,3% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 433 000 in December 2025 to 9 409 000 in March 2026. It is explained that this was again driven by weakness in trade, community services, and transport, although business services and mining showed modest gains.
