IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The results of the LFS conducted in September 2006 indicate that:

In the five years to September 2006, the continuous rise in employment has added 1,6 million jobs to the South African labour market.

The formal sector (excluding agriculture) accounted for 1,4 million of the 1,6 million additional jobs in the labour market in the five years to September 2006.

In the year to September 2006, there was an expansion in employment by half of a million jobs. There was also a decline in unemployed persons and the unemployment rate fell from 26,7% in September 2005 to 25,5% in September 2006.

The rise in employment in the year to September 2006 (500 000) together with a decline in both unemployed persons (96 000 down) and the number of discouraged work-seekers (95 000 down) - suggest that persons that were previously discouraged were able to find employment.

Employment growth in the year to September 2006 also had a positive impact on both the labour force participation and absorption rates.

The percentage of working-age South Africans with jobs increased from 41,4% in September 2005 to 42,7% in September 2006.