https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
Africa|Coal|Gold|Mining|Platinum
Africa|Coal|Gold|Mining|Platinum
africa|coal|gold|mining|platinum

Gold mining sheds 80% of its workers in 35 years

23rd May 2025

     

Font size: - +

South Africa’s gold mining industry has shed 80% of its workforce over the past three-and-a-half decades. In 1988, more than 536 000 people worked in the sector. By 2000, that number had more than halved to 217 000; by 2023, it had fallen to 94 000.

Several factors have driven this decline. Many gold mines have closed as accessible reserves became depleted, forcing miners to dig ever deeper and at greater costs. Global economic shifts and competition from other gold-producing nations have put pressure on South African mines.

Gold has been overtaken by platinum and coal in terms of employment numbers. The number of people working in platinum mining has doubled from 85 000 in 1988 to 183 000 in 2023. Just over 96 000 people were employed in coal mining in 2023.

Mining was once a pillar of South Africa’s economy. In the early 1980s, it contributed about 20% to the GDP; by 2023, its contribution had dropped to 6.3%.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

 

Showroom

Multotec
Multotec

Multotec, recognised industry leaders in metallurgy and process engineering help mining houses across the world process minerals more efficiently,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Actom
Actom

Your one-stop global energy-solution partner

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 23 May 2025
Magazine round up | 23 May 2025
23rd May 2025

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.183 0.268s - 154pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now