Employment in the third quarter won some, and lost some, as some industries shed jobs, but others created more jobs. Fewer formal jobs were created compared to a year ago, while part-time jobs followed the same trend. Statistics SA released the Quarterly Employment Statistics(QES) for the third quarter on Thursday, 11 December.
The statistics are based on information from businesses registered for Vat with an annual turnover of more than R300 000. Samples are drawn from private non-agricultural businesses. A sample size of about 20 000 was selected.
It excludes agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, the informal business sector and private households. According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics, total employment increased by 29 000 or 0.3% compared to the second quarter, from 10 520 000 in June 2025 to 10 549 000 in September 2025, due to increases in employment in community services (added 39 000 jobs, trade (added 6 000 jobs) and mining (added 5 000 jobs), while electricity and transport remained unchanged. However, decreases in employment were reported bybusiness services(shed 12 000 jobs), manufacturing (shed 5 000 jobs) and construction (shed 4 000 jobs).
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Statistics SA saystotal employment decreasedby 79 000 or -0,7% between September 2024 and September 2025. Full-time employment decreased by 21 000 compared to the second quarter, from 9 426 000 in June 2025 to 9 405 000 in September 2025 due to decreases in business services (shed 18 000 jobs), manufacturing (shed 4 000 jobs), community services (shed 3 000 jobs) and trade (shed 2 000 jobs), while electricity and transport remained unchanged. However, increases were reported by mining (added 5 000 jobs) and construction (added 1 000 jobs).
According to Statistics SA, full-time employment decreased by 72 000 jobs or -0,8% between September 2024 and September 2025. Part-time employment increased by 50 000 or 4,6% compared to the second quarter, from 1 094 000 in June 2025 to 1 144 000 in September 2025 due to increases in community services (added 42 000 jobs), trade (added 8 000 jobs), business services (added 6 000 jobs), while electricity and transport remained unchanged. However, decreases were reported by construction (shed 5 000 jobs) and manufacturing (shed 1 000 jobs). Part-time employment decreased by 7 000 jobs or -0,6% between September 2024 and September 2025.
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