14 000 formal jobs lost in Q2: Stats SA
Manufacturing, trade and transport recorded the largest decreases in employment.
In the second quarter of 2026, a total of 14,000 formal jobs were lost, according to data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The employment figure dropped from 10.439 million in March to 10.425 million in June, a marginal decrease of 0.1%. The decline in jobs was primarily observed in the manufacturing, business services, trade, and transport sectors.
Stats SA's Director of Quarterly Employment Statistics, Matlapane Masupye, reported that full-time employment decreased by 96,000 year-on-year, while part-time employment increased by 26,000 quarter-on-quarter, rising from 1.069 million in March to 1.095 million in June. This growth in part-time jobs was attributed to increases in community services, business services, electricity, and transport industries. However, Manufacturing, construction, and trade sectors experienced job cuts.
Overall, total employment in South Africa decreased by 95,000 on a year-on-year basis between June 2025 and June 2026.
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