Ramaphosa, Macpherson declare SA a construction industry amid jobs boost

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Public Works, Dean Machpherson, have declared South Africa an official construction site.

The project to boost job creation in the country’s construction sector, which, according to the recent labour force survey, is the biggest contributor to job opportunties, comes as the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, has set aside R1 trillion towards the infrastructure development programme.

Ramaphosa, addressed the National Construction Summit held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, who on Thursday said only through reliable infrastructure can South Africa truly thrive.

He stated that infrastructure investment facilitates trade and commerce and job opportunities in communities.

According to the latest quarterly labour force survey report released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, South Africa has seen a positive trend in employment, with 248,000 additional jobs created in the third quarter of 2025.

This growth has led to a decrease in the unemployment rate from 33.2% in the second quarter to 31.9% in the third quarter, a transition that, according to Macpherson, is a glimmer of hope for the construction sector, which accounts for 59% of the new jobs created.

“The construction industry supports the Sustainable Development Goals by enabling resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban development. We are beginning to witness the recovery of our construction industry. Infrastructure is poised to once again become the flywheel of the economy. Infrastructure investment is one of the most effective levers for stimulating economic activity,” Ramaphosa told delegates to the construction summit.

On job opportunities created by the sector, Ramaphosa said the country is now reaping the rewards of infrastructure investment, with the recent labour force survey confirming that the sector has increased its job opportunities.

“This is evident in the employment figures released by Statistics SA earlier this week. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey indicates a decrease in the official unemployment rate from 33.2 % in the second quarter of this year to 31.9 % in the third quarter. Employment increased by 248,000 in the third quarter,” he stated.

Machperson, echoing Ramaphosa's sentiments said the 130, 000 jobs created by the construction sector are indeed a sign that the country is poised for economic growth.

“This summit is about one thing: charting the next phase of South Africa’s construction revival — with faster delivery, stronger institutions, and an industry that delivers for our people.

“We have real momentum. The task now is to turn that momentum into measurable action across the entire value chain - from project preparation and regulation to procurement, community partnerships, and law enforcement,” the minster said.