Stats SA's release of Quarterly Employment Statistics for March 2026 on Tuesday indicated 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.
South Africa's jobs crisis worsened in the first three months of this year after employment fell by 80 000 to 10 47 million who held jobs by the end of March 2026, and outlook is equally bleak.
Stats SA's Quarterly Employment Statistics for March 2026 released on Tuesday indicated that total employment decreased by -0.8%, quarter-on-quarter, which economists said was of great concern given the already high unemployment rate, but it not unexpected.
Stats SA reported that there were decreases in community services jobs (-53 000), trade (-40 000), transport (-3 000), and electricity (-1 000).
“There were increases reported by manufacturing (7 000), business services (7 000), mining (2 000), and construction (1 000). Total employment decreased by 121 000, or -1.1% year-on-year between March 2025 and March 2026.”
