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Construction Labour Force 2008 - 2025Q4

Formal Construction Employment Accelerates in Q4 2025, Lifting Total Jobs to an Eight-Year High

South Africa’s construction labour force increased by 35 000 jobs q-q and 65 000 jobs y-y in Q4 2025, lifting total employment to over 1.4 million — the highest level since 2018. Importantly, growth was driven by a 3.9% q-q increase in formal employment (28 000 jobs), while the informal market expanded by only 1% q-q (7 000 jobs). Construction recorded the strongest year-on-year sectoral increase, up 32% y-y, with Gauteng and Western Cape leading gains, pushing their labour forces to multi-year highs.

The stronger formal-sector hiring suggests early signs of cyclical stabilisation rather than purely seasonal year-end effects, although the recovery remains fragile given fiscal constraints and continued weakness in manufacturing. Sustained momentum into 2026 will depend on continued formal-sector expansion, improved project awards and strengthening contractor profitability.

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