City Press Business writes that the platinum industry shed roughly 20,000 jobs in the year to end March as the major mining companies wrapped up their restructuring plans.

The latest statistics from the Department of Mineral Resources show employment in the sector rapidly dropping back to below 2010 levels.  This drop already includes Lonmin and Anglo American Platinum’s major announced job cuts.  At the same time, the long-term decline in the gold sector seems to have bottomed out at 115,000 jobs.  This is the first time in years that the gold mines have not decreased their employment levels over the course of a year.  Meanwhile, the less politically charged coal sector has continued to contract after reaching a peak of 90,000 jobs back in 2013.  It shed almost 10% of its workforce in 2014 and last year.

• Read this report by Dewald van Rensburg in full on page 4 of City Press Business of 7 August 2016
• Read this report in Afrikaans at Netwerk24 (limited access)

http://www.salabournews.co.za/33071-are-the-mines-finished-laying-off-employees