Economy sheds jobs again in first quarter, unemployment worse than year ago

The economy shed jobs again in the first quarter of 2025, with unemployment also worse than a year ago, as employment decreased by 95 000 or -0.9% between March 2024 and March 2025, as full-time as well as part-time employment decreased.

According to Statistics SA, its Quarterly Employment Statistics for the first quarter of the year show that total employment decreased by 74 000 or -0.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, from 10 653 000 in December 2024 to 10 579 000 in March 2025.

This was due to decreases in trade that shed 52 000 jobs (-2.2%), community services that shed 17 000 jobs (0.6%), mining that shed 4 000 jobs (-0.9%), business services that shed 1 000 jobs (0.0%), construction that also shed 1 000 jobs (-0.2%) and electricity that also shed 1 000 jobs (-1.6%).

Employment in the transport industry remains unchanged, while manufacturing added 2 000 jobs (0.2%).

This graphic shows the changes in employment for each industry:

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Full-time and part-time employment decreased, pushing up unemployment in first quarter

Full-time employment decreased by 40 000 jobs (-0,4%) between March 2024 and March 2025.

Statistics SA’s data shows that full-time employment decreased by 55 000 jobs (-0.6%) compared to the fourth quarter, from 9 503 000 in December 2024 to 9 448 000 in March 2025, due to decreases in trade that shed 34 000 jobs (-1.6%), business services that shed 11 000 jobs (-0.5%), community services that shed 10 000 jobs (-0.4%), mining that shed 4 000 jobs (-0.9%) and electricity that shed 1 000 jobs (-1.6%).

The manufacturing and transport industries remained unchanged, while the construction industry added 5 000 jobs (0.9%).

Part-time employment decreased by 55 000 jobs (-4.6%) between March 2024 and March 2025.

According to Statistics SA, part-time employment shed 19 000 jobs (-1,7%) compared to the fourth quarter, from 1 150 000 in December 2024 to 1 131 000 in March 2025, due to decreases in trade that shed 18 000 jobs (-6.9%), community services that shed 7 000 jobs (-1.4%) and construction that shed 6 000 jobs (-8.3%).

Electricity and transport remain unchanged, while business services added 10 000 jobs (4.4%) and manufacturing added 2 000 jobs (2.4%).

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Gross earnings less than fourth quarter but more than year ago

According to Statistics SA, gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R47.3 billion (-4,6%) from R1.03 trillion in December 2024 to R983.1 billion in March 2025, due to community services, manufacturing, trade, construction, transport, electricity and mining shedding jobs, while business services added some jobs.

However, employees’ gross earnings increased by R26.1 billion (2,7%) between March 2024 and March 2025.

Basic salary or wages paid to employees decreased by R9.4 billion (-1.1%) from R890 billion in December 2024 to R881 billion in March 2025, due to decreases in community services, trade, manufacturing, construction, business services, transport and mining, while only electricity reported an increase.

Basic salary or wages increased by R33.1 billion (3.9%) between March 2024 and March 2025.

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Bonuses and overtime also decreased

Employee bonuses also decreased by R36.5 billion (-32.5%) from R112 billion in December 2024 to R75.8 billion in March 2025, due to decreases in community services, manufacturing, trade, construction, transport and electricity, while business services reported an increase. Bonus payments decreased by R5.7 billion (-6.9%) between March 2024 and March 2025.

Overtime payments decreased by R1.4 billion (-5.1%) from R27.7 billion in December 2024 to R26.3 billion in March 2025, due to decreases in business services, manufacturing, construction, transport and trade, while electricity remained unchanged and community services showed an increase. Employees’ overtime payments decreased by R1.3 billion (-4.7%) between March 2024 and March 2025.

According to Statistics SA, employees’ average monthly earnings decreased by 0.1% from R28 316 in November 2024 to R28 289 in February 2025. Employees’ average monthly earnings, on the other hand, increased by 5.6% between February 2024 and February 2025.

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