South Africa’s formal employment market has come under renewed pressure, with 14,000 formal sector jobs lost between March and June 2026, according to the latest figures from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
The decline has pushed total employment to about 10.4 million, with some of the country’s key economic sectors recording notable job losses.
Manufacturing, business services, trade and transport were among the sectors affected during the latest quarter, highlighting continued challenges in the formal labour market.
Over the past year, formal employment has declined by 95,000 jobs, adding to concerns about the ability of the economy to generate and retain employment.
Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke said full-time employment decreased by 40,000 quarter-on-quarter, falling from 9.37 million in March 2026 to 9.33 million in June.
Maluleke said the decline in full-time employment was linked to decreases across several industries, including business services, manufacturing, trade and transport, community services and electricity.
The latest figures point to continued pressure on employment across a range of industries, with businesses and workers facing an uncertain labour market.
The decline also underscores the importance of sustained economic activity in sectors that account for significant levels of formal employment.
Stats SA’s figures provide a snapshot of the formal labour market between March and June, while the year-on-year decline shows that employment pressures have persisted beyond the latest quarter.