Category Archives: Work and labour force

28 000 jobs lost in SA formal sector third quarter of 2019

28 000 jobs lost in SA formal sector third quarter of 2019

Formal sector employment decreased by 28 000 in September 2019, with 11 000 full-time and 17 000 part-time jobs shed during the quarter. The September 2019 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that an estimated 10 142 000 people were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy, which is down by 28 000 from 10 170 000 in the   read more »


Unemployment rises slightly in third quarter of 2019

Unemployment rises slightly in third quarter of 2019

South Africa’s unemployment rate increased by 0,1 of a percentage point to 29,1% in Q3 of 2019. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa, this is the highest unemployment rate since Stats SA started measuring unemployment using the QLFS in 2008. Between Q2: 2019 and Q3: 2019, the number   read more »


SA formal sector jobs decline in second quarter of 2019

SA formal sector jobs decline in second quarter of 2019

The June 2019 Quarterly Employment Survey, released by Statistics South Africa, showed that an estimated 10 172 000 people were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy, which is down by 2 000 from the 10 174 000 recorded in the previous quarter. Full-time employment decreased by 26 000 to 9 103 000, and part-time employment increased by 24 000   read more »


Discouragement decreases and unemployment increases in the second quarter of 2019

Discouragement decreases and unemployment increases in the second quarter of 2019

The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2019, released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), indicate that the official unemployment rate increased by 1,4 percentage points to 29,0% compared to the first quarter of 2019. The number of unemployed persons increased by 455 000 to 6,7 million in Q2:   read more »


Youth graduate unemployment rate increases in Q1: 2019

Youth graduate unemployment rate increases in Q1: 2019

The youth aged 15–24 years are the most vulnerable in the South African labour market as the unemployment rate among this age group was 55,2% in the 1st quarter of 2019. Among graduates in this age group, the unemployment rate was 31,0% during this period compared to 19,5% in the 4th quarter of 2018 –   read more »


SA formal sector jobs increased in the fourth quarter of 2018

SA formal sector jobs increased in the fourth quarter of 2018

The December 2018 QES survey showed that an estimated 10 151 000 people were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy, which is up by 87 000 from 10 064 000 in the previous quarter. The number of people working part-time increased by 37 000 to 1 065 000 in the   read more »


Unemployment drops in fourth quarter of 2018

Unemployment drops in fourth quarter of 2018

South Africa’s unemployment rate decreased by 0,4 of a percentage point to 27,1% in the 4th quarter of 2018 compared to the 3rd quarter of 2018 according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa. The working-age population increased by 149 000 or 0,4% in the 4th quarter of 2018 compared   read more »


The formal non-agricultural sector sheds 16 000 jobs in September 2018

The formal non-agricultural sector sheds 16 000 jobs in September 2018

The Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) for the third quarter of 2018, shows a decrease of 16 000 jobs. Job losses occurred in the manufacturing (-7 000), construction (-5 000), mining  (-2 000), trade (-2 000), transport (-1 000), and community services (-1 000) industries. The manufacturing and construction industries accounted for about three-quarters of the decline in employment over the quarter. Whilst   read more »


How much does SA business spend on its employees?

How much does SA business spend on its employees?

About 14% of total spending, according to recent figures. A quick review of the data shows that this proportion has remained relatively stable over the last decade. In the second quarter of 2009, employment costs contributed 15% of total expenditure in the formal business sector. Although there hasn’t been a major change over time for   read more »


Formal employment declines in second quarter of 2018

Formal employment declines in second quarter of 2018

According to the figures from the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey, released by Statistics South Africa, the total number of jobs reported in the second quarter showed a decrease of 69 000, bringing the total number of persons employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of South Africa to 9 748 000. Job losses were reported in the   read more »