Statistics South Africa has released its July 2026 Stats Biz, highlighting fresh 2024 figures for the construction industry. The update shows the sector remained under pressure last year, with fewer jobs and softer activity as companies faced slow economic growth, limited new projects and recurring load‑shedding — scheduled electricity cuts that halt work sites and delay deliveries.
The data comes from Statistics South Africa’s annual surveys that track companies’ employment and finances, offering a view of how much work is being done, how many people are hired and what firms are earning and spending. The report points to a thin project pipeline as public and private investment stayed weak, while labour shortages and lingering post‑pandemic disruptions compounded delays. Higher input costs and power interruptions make projects pricier and riskier to execute, which discourages new building and weighs on hiring.
Because construction underpins infrastructure, housing and many supplier industries, a prolonged lull signals a fragile investment cycle and slower job creation. The next markers to watch are any stabilisation in electricity supply, the pace and funding of government infrastructure tenders, municipal capacity to deliver projects, interest rate moves that affect borrowing costs, and leading clues like building plans passed and tender awards that would show whether 2025 activity can turn a corner.
For more detail, read the full announcement.