South Africa job losses continue to climb as major employers shut units or retrench staff. New labour data shows the economy shed 291,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2025, pushing the official unemployment rate to 32.9%. Youth unemployment sits above 46%. These figures underline the scale of the shock felt across households.
Big Cuts at Steel, Auto and Tyre Firms
ArcelorMittal South Africa plans to close its long-steel business by the end of September, which the Employment and Labour Minister said could cost about 3,500 direct jobs and put a further 100,000 downstream at risk.
Ford South Africa has announced 474 job cuts across its Silverton and Gqeberha plants. Goodyear’s Kariega tyre plant closure resulted in 900 layoffs as part of a global restructuring. Together, these moves amplify South Africa job losses across industrial hubs.
Glencore and Samancor Retrenchments
Mining communities also face strain. Glencore initiated a Section 189 process from 1 September that could affect more than 3,000 positions across smelters and related operations. The National Union of Mineworkers warned of the knock-on impact on families and towns that rely on these jobs.
Coca-Cola Confirms 680 Layoffs
Pressure has spread beyond heavy industry. Coca-Cola South Africa confirmed plans to retrench 680 employees as part of a restructuring, mainly affecting administrative, distribution and support roles. The company says it will provide severance packages and outplacement support. Unions have pushed back, arguing the cuts add to South Africa job losses at a fragile time.
What Government and Unions Say
Government has expressed concern and cited temporary relief tools like the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s support schemes. However, economists and labour voices argue that only deeper structural reforms—improving municipal performance, tackling crime, and lifting growth—will slow the tide of retrenchments. Until then, South Africa job losses are likely to remain a central risk for workers and the wider economy.
