The South African agricultural sector continues to create more jobs. In the first quarter of 2026, agriculture jobs increased 3% from the same period a year earlier to 960k jobs (up 1% from the last quarter of 2025).
This increase in agricultural employment is not surprising as the sector generally enjoyed favorable production conditions from earlier this year through 2025. Industries that have faced challenges include beef, dairy and pork producers due to foot-and-mouth disease and the pork industry due to African swine fever.
Other subregions have experienced generally favorable production conditions, partly due to La Niña-induced rainfall and expansion of agricultural activity. The provinces that showed annual job growth are the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, North West and Limpopo. The increase in jobs in these provinces helped offset the decline recorded in other provinces of the country.
Apart from the cattle and pork industries, which face various challenges, activity in field crops, horticulture and wine has been generally upbeat, and the expected harvest is abundant. For example, data released by the Crop Estimates Committee in late April 2026 showed that South Africa's 2025–26 summer grain and oilseed crop was estimated at 20.8 million tonnes, up 1% year-on-year. This annual improvement in total crops is based on increases in major cereals and oilseeds, particularly corn, soybean and sunflower seeds.
We also saw strong performance across various fruit products. For example, export volumes of the stone fruit and pomegranate industries have increased by 12% year on year due to larger harvests.
Furthermore, figures recently released by the South African table grape industry show that the final figures for the 2025–26 table grape season inspected for export were 81.25 million cartons (4.5 kg cartons), an increase of 3% year-on-year.
Production conditions for vegetables remain broadly favorable and have led to increased activity in the sector. The poultry industry also had a good start to the year, supported by low feed prices (corn and soybeans).
Overall, the beginning of 2026 reflects strong job figures for the region, and these generally better job figures could continue for most of the year, well above the region average of 799k.
But there are risks ahead in 2027. Higher input costs, fuel and fertilizers due to the Middle East war, as well as the expected El Niño drought, are some of the risks that could impact the sector and employment conditions from now on.
Wandile Sihlobo is Chief Economist at the Agribusiness Chamber of South Africa (AGBIZ)