South Africa’s loss of 3,000 jobs in the formal non-agricultural sector was a setback to the country’s recovery in the recession- and coronavirus-hit economy, Statistics South Africa has said.
The job losses took place between December 2019 and March 2020 as the country struggles with an unemployment rate of 30 percent, Stats SA said on Tuesday.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom on the local job market, the agency noted.
This was due to additional 54,000 people employed in the community, social and personal services industry over the year to March 2020, it said.
Increases in employment in provincial departments, local government, national departments, health and social work, universities and technical colleges triggered the gains, the agency said.
The business services industry also grew by 8,000 jobs, mining sector by 3,000 jobs and the transport industry with 2,000 jobs, it added.
NM/jn/APA