SA LOST 30 000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS OVER THE PAST YEAR

New numbers released by Statistics SA show a
bloodbath in construction jobs over
the past months, while the mining sector is steadily
employing more people – for now.

The Quarterly Employment Statistics survey for the
second quarter of the year showed that almost 10.2-million people were employed
in the second quarter, 2 000 fewer than in the first quarter of the year – but
141 000 more than a year ago.

In the past quarter to end-June alone, 16 000 jobs
were lost in the construction sector –
there are now 30 000 fewer workers in the construction industry
than a year ago. But community services (including
civil servants, health workers as well as
part-time workers for the elections this year) and the mining industry
reported increases of 44 000 and 3 000 jobs respectively over the past quarter.

Parts of the mining industry have benefited
from stronger resource prices, particularly platinum and gold. But job cuts
are looming: Sibanye-Stillwater, the biggest SA gold producer and the
largest platinum miner in
the world, may retrench almost 6 000 workers, while steel producer
ArcelorMittal SA is also planning 2 000 retrenchments.

Mining employment 

The manufacturing industry
saw a sharp 15 000 drop in jobs in the past quarter compared to the first quarter
of the year. It employed 1 000 fewer people in June 2019 compared with June
2018.

Manufacturing employment

The QES collects information on businesses registered for VAT with an annual turnover greater than R300 000, as well as government employers. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/sa-lost-30-000-construction-jobs-over-the-past-year-2019-09-26/rep_id:4136