The industries creating the most jobs in South Africa
South Africa’s finance industry was the biggest contributor to employment growth in the third quarter of 2026, accounting for more than 100 000 additional jobs as the country recorded a modest increase in overall employment.
Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA) latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), covering July to September 2026, shows that the number of employed people increased by 101 000 compared with the previous quarter.
The finance industry recorded the largest increase, adding 111 000 jobs between the second and third quarters.
This brought the number of people employed in the sector to approximately 3.06 million, up from 2.95 million in the previous quarter.
The finance category includes financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services.
These industries recorded the biggest employment gains
Finance was followed by manufacturing, which added 33 000 jobs, and mining, which recorded an increase of 31 000.
Community and social services also contributed to employment growth, adding 20 000 jobs, while transport recorded an increase of 16 000.
The figures show that seven of the ten industries measured by Stats SA recorded employment increases between Q2 and Q3 2026.
| Industry | Jobs gained |
|---|---|
| Finance | 111 000 |
| Manufacturing | 33 000 |
| Mining | 31 000 |
| Community and social services | 20 000 |
| Transport | 16 000 |
| Utilities | 4 000 |
| Trade | 2 000 |
These increases were partially offset by job losses in other industries.
Some industries continue to shed jobs
Private households (domestic workers, gardeners, etc.) recorded the biggest decline, losing 68 000 jobs during the quarter. Agriculture followed with a decrease of 34 000 jobs, while construction recorded a decline of 8 000.
The figures highlight the uneven nature of employment growth in South Africa, with gains in some industries failing to translate into improvements across the wider economy.
South Africa’s employment picture remains challenging
Despite the 101 000 additional jobs recorded during the third quarter, the country’s unemployment rate increased slightly from 33.6% to 33.7%.
The number of unemployed people also increased by 97 000 to reach approximately 8.58 million.
This means that employment growth has not been sufficient to absorb the growing number of people entering or remaining in the labour market.
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