South Africa recorded a marginal improvement in employment in the fourth quarter of 2025, with total jobs rising by 18,000 to 10.55 million in December, according to Quarterly Employment Statistics released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday.
The 0.2 percent quarterly increase was driven mainly by gains in the trade and business services sectors, which added 37,000 and 17,000 jobs, respectively.
The uptick offers only limited relief in an economy grappling with one of the world’s highest unemployment rates.
South Africa’s joblessness has remained structurally elevated for decades, with youth unemployment persistently above 50 percent and sluggish economic growth constraining the labour market’s ability to absorb new entrants.
Even with the latest quarterly improvement, total employment remains 102,000 jobs lower than in December 2024.
StatsSA reported that several industries continued to shed jobs in the final quarter of the year.
Construction lost 13,000 jobs, manufacturing declined by 11,000, community services fell by 5,000, transport by 4,000 and mining by 3,000.
Employment in the electricity sector was unchanged.
Full‑time employment increased by 14,000 jobs to 9.43 million, supported by gains in trade, business services and community services.
Part‑time employment rose by 4,000 jobs to 1.12 million, with increases in trade, business services and transport.
JN/APA