Category Archives: Work and labour force

#WomensMonth: Exploring the mayoral glass ceiling

#WomensMonth: Exploring the mayoral glass ceiling

Three of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities were headed by female mayors in 2017. Executive Mayors Zandile Gumede (eThekwini), Olly Mlamleli (Mangaung) and Patricia de Lille (Cape Town) collectively presided over a population of 8,7 million people, comprising 15% of South Africa’s total population.1 It’s not only these high-profile cities that have a woman in   read more »


How do women fare in the South African labour market?

How do women fare in the South African labour market?

The South African labour market is more favourable to men than it is to women and men are more likely to be in paid employment than women, regardless of race. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate has been relatively high since 2008. In the last   read more »


Migrants flock to Gauteng

Migrants flock to Gauteng

According to the Mid-year population estimates report for 2018 released by Statistics South Africa, the population of South Africa is estimated at 57,7 million as at 1 July 2018. While births and deaths are considered the main drivers of population change, migration continues to be significant, not only demographically but politically, economically and socially. The report shows   read more »


Quarterly Labour Force Survey – QLFS Q1:2018

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                                                        15 May 2018 Quarterly Labour Force Survey – QLFS Q1:2018 The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2018 released by Statistics South Africa today indicate that: The South African working-age population increased by 153 000 or 0,4 per cent   read more »


Youth unemployment still high in Q1: 2018

Youth unemployment still high in Q1: 2018

The South African working-age population increased by 153 000 or 0,4 per cent in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the fourth quarter of 2017. The rise in both employment (up by 206 000) and unemployment (up by 100 000) over the quarter led to the rise in the labour force participation rate now   read more »


South African economy gains formal jobs in fourth quarter

South African economy gains formal jobs in fourth quarter

Figures from the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that South Africa’s formal non-agricultural sector added 81 000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2017, bringing the total number of persons employed in the formal non-agricultural to 9,8 million. The QES also showed formal sector jobs rise by 18 000 in the fourth quarter compared with the   read more »


Businesses bleed jobs for third consecutive quarter

Businesses bleed jobs for third consecutive quarter

New figures from the QES showed that South Africa’s formal non-agricultural sector shed 31 000 jobs in the third quarter of 2017. With losses of 41 000 in March 2017 and 31 000 in June 2017, this marks the third straight quarter of job losses across South Africa. The job market has experienced notable pressure in the last   read more »


Bumper harvest helps keep economy afloat

Bumper harvest helps keep economy afloat

The South African economy grew by 2,0% in the third quarter of 2017 (seasonally adjusted and annualised), down from a revised 2,8% in the second quarter. Agriculture, mining and manufacturing were the main drivers of the expansion, while there was a contraction in general government services resulting from low employment numbers in the public sector.   read more »


QUARTERLY EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

  Media Release                                                                                         28 September 2017   The results of the Quarterly Employment Survey for the second quarter of 2017 released by Statistics South Africa today, show a decline of 34 000 jobs (or -0.4%) to 9 617 000  in the formal non-agricultural sector in the quarter ended in June 2017.  This is a gain   read more »


More bad news for job-seekers

More bad news looms for job-seekers as the formal non-agricultural sector of the economy reported a decline of 34 000 jobs for the quarter ended June 2017. This is according to the latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) report released by Statistics South Africa. The QES data tracks changes in employment at the establishment level, and thus   read more »