South Africa’s non-agricultural sector added 12,000 jobs in the final quarter of 2024, pushing total employment to 10.64 million. This modest 0.1% increase was largely driven by gains in the trade, business services, transport, and electricity sectors. The trade industry contributed 42,000 new jobs, while business services added 22,000. However, employment declined in community services (-26,000), manufacturing (-13,000), construction (-13,000), and mining (-3,000).
In addition to the employment gains, gross earnings paid to employees rose significantly, increasing by R59.1 billion to reach R1.03 trillion. The trade sector led this growth with an additional R13.6 billion in wages, followed by manufacturing and community services with R13 billion and R12.4 billion respectively. Meanwhile, the mining sector experienced a drop in gross earnings by R910 million.
Despite the positive job growth, full-time employment fell by 26,000 year-on-year, while part-time roles decreased by 65,000. The overall unemployment rate, however, improved slightly, dropping from 32.1% to 31.9%. In response to South Africa’s ongoing employment challenges, the government has committed to driving inclusive growth and job creation through its medium-term development plan.