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 workforce in South Africa decreased by 80 000 positions in the first quarter of 2026, erasing previous gains and highlighting a deepening economic crisis.
Total employment fell by 0.8% between December 2025 and March 2026, dropping from 10 548,000 to 10 468,000, according to the latest official statistical release.
This quarterly downturn caps a bleak year for the labour market, which has shed 121,000 jobs—a 1.1 per cent contraction—since March 2025.
The widespread decline was primarily driven by severe contractions in community services, which shed 53 000 jobs, and the trade sector, which saw a reduction of 40 000 positions. Minor losses were also recorded in transport and electricity, which fell by 3 000 and 1 000 jobs respectively.
