UASA Media Release: 24 June 2025
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
UASA is deeply concerned about the outlook for employment rates, as the Quarterly Employment Statistics reported by Stats SA indicate a contraction in employment, reversing the progress made towards the end of last year.
According to Stats SA, formal sector employment lost 74,000 jobs in the first quarter, and year-on-year data reveals that 95,000 jobs were lost between March 2024 and March 2025. This trend indicates a persistent decline in employment opportunities across various sectors.
The industries most affected include trade, community services, mining, electricity, construction, and business services. Only manufacturing showed slight growth, with a gain of 2,000 jobs.
The current economic outlook is not encouraging and fails to inspire hope, as major sectors such as Trade, Construction, and Community Services continue to experience significant declines. This situation exacerbates the insecurity faced by workers who are already under pressure from high living costs.
We cannot continue to operate on the brink of a failing economy without any prospects for a better future. We urge both the government and employers to collaborate with trade unions and other stakeholders to rebuild the labour market, focusing on decent work, fair wages, and sustainable employment. Immediate economic interventions are necessary to stimulate job creation in both the formal and informal sectors, as well as to implement skills development programs that support struggling sectors, such as manufacturing, which has shown resilience this quarter.
Job creation and employment are vital to economic development, and it is essential that we all work diligently toward achieving this goal.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.