Stats SA's release of Quarterly Employment Statistics 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.
Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers
Stats SA's release of Quarterly Employment Statistics 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.
Stats SA said 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.
Stats SA said that there are decreases in community services (-53 000), trade (-40 000), transport (-3 000), and electricity (-1 000).
“There were increases reported by the following industries: 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.”
Stats SA added that total employment decreased by 121 000, or -1.1% year-on-year between March 2025 and March 2026.
“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.
This was due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-27 000, ), community services (-3 000,), transport (-2 000, ), and construction (-1 000,), manufacturing (-1 000,), while electricity remained unchanged.
However, there were increases reported by the following industries: business services (8 000, or 0.4%), and mining (2 000, or 0.4%).”
Stats SA said that part-time employment decreased by 56 000, or -5.0%, quarter-on-quarter, from 1 115 000 in December 2025 to 1 059 000 in March 2026.
“This was due to decreases in the following industries: community services (-50 000, ), trade (-13 000, ), business services (-1 000, ), transport (-1 000, ), electricity (-1 000,).
However, there were increases reported by the following industries: manufacturing (8 000, or 10.5%), and construction (2 000, or 3.4%).”
Stats SA added that part-time employment decreased by 73 000, or -6.4% year-on-year between March 2025 and March 2026.
“Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R43.4 billion, or -4.0% from R1.08 trillion in December 2025 to R1.04 trillion in March 2026. This was due to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing, community services, trade, construction, electricity, and transport. However, business services and mining reported increases.”
Dr Lerato Ntuli, Economist, Anchor Capital, said that the latest quarterly employment statistics (QES) point to a modest deterioration in local labour market conditions in 1Q26, with total employment declining to 10.468 million (from 10.548 million in 4Q25), reflecting a 0.8% contraction.
Ntuli added that these losses were only partially offset by modest gains in more cyclical and externally supported sectors, including manufacturing (+0.6% QoQ), business services (+0.3% QoQ), mining (+0.4%), and construction (+0.2% QoQ).
Employment conditions in 2Q26 are expected to be further dampened by the spillover effects of the Middle East conflict, which has weighed on global demand and heightened uncertainty.
“This, combined with already subdued domestic activity, suggests limited scope for meaningful job creation, reinforcing a fragile labour market outlook.”
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