Statistics SA published the Quarterly Employment Statistics for the fourth quarter of 2024 showing more jobs were lost than gained.
The South African economy only added another 12 000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2024, increasing total employment by 0.1% compared to the third quarter from 10 628 000 in September 2024 to 10 640 000 in December 2024.
According to Statistics SA, the extra jobs were largely due to an increase in trade that added 42 000 (1.8%), business services that added 22 000 jobs (0.9%), transport that added 2 000 jobs (0.4%) and electricity that added 1 000 jobs (1.6%).
However, these increases were negated by job losses in community services, which lost 25,000 jobs (-0.9%); manufacturing, which lost 13 000 jobs (-1.0%); construction, which lost 13 000 jobs (-2.1%); and mining, which lost 3 000 jobs (-0.6%).
Between December 2023 and December 2024, total employment decreased by 91 000 jobs (-0.8%).
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