A total of 246 000 jobs were lost in the manufacturing industry over a period of 10 years to 2014 according Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) in its Manufacturing Industry 2014 report, released yesterday.
The biggest losses were recorded in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear; food products and beverages; metals, metal products, machinery and equipment; furniture, other manufacturing and recycling; and transport equipment.
StatsSA said jobs were only gained in coke, petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic sectors.
StatsSA said the total income for the manufacturing industry had increased by 9.4% per annum, from R1.68 trillion in 2011 to R2.20 trillion in 2014.
Large enterprises contributed only 46.4% of employment whereas the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) sector created 53.6% of jobs.
The large sample survey is a periodic survey conducted every three to five years. The last survey was published in 2011.
