The jobs bloodbath continued in the third quarter, with more than 30,000 jobs lost, Statistics SA data showed on Tuesday. On the same day, manufacturing figures showed the sector performed better than had been expected. Mining production data released last week showed the sector was growing. Formal employment in SA, excluding the agricultural sector, fell by 31,000 jobs in the third quarter of 2017. A total of 9,000 jobs were lost in mining in the third quarter and manufacturing shed 5,000 jobs, despite both sectors having staged recoveries and posted uninterrupted growth for three consecutive quarters. Manufacturing recorded 2.2% growth for October. Last week, data showed that mining production increased 5.2% year on year in October. NKC economist Elize Kruger said on Tuesday that the job losses were symptomatic of a stagnant economy and depressed business confidence. "It is very clear that the confidence deficit — related to policy and political uncertainties — is keeping [the] .....
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