JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's formal job market started the year on the back foot and shed 80,000 jobs in just three months.
That's according to Stats SA's latest Quarterly Employment figures.
The QEs track formal, non-agricultural jobs in registered businesses and the public sector.
Losses in community services and trade drove the decline, while transport and electricity are also under pressure.
READ | Six straight quarters of growth, no jobs to show for it
Manufacturing, business services, mining and construction posted small gains, but not enough to offset the broader losses.
Full-time employment slipped, while part-time jobs saw an even sharper decline.
Earnings also weakened in the quarter, with gross pay down R43.4 billion, mainly due to lower bonuses.
However, on a yearly basis, salary growth remains positive.