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Economic wrap-up for May 2023

Economic wrap-up for May 2023

Stats SA published 21 statistical releases in the month of May, providing valuable insight into the current state of our economy. Here is a brief rundown of important indicators. Inflation edged lower in April Despite the ongoing stresses of rising prices and escalating costs of debt, there were some hopeful signs from the latest inflation   read more »


Economic, social and political empowerment are critical for achieving gender equality in SA

Economic, social and political empowerment are critical for achieving gender equality in SA

More than half (51,1%) of the South African population are female[1] and, according to the General Household Survey (GHS) 2021, more than two-fifths (42,0%) of households are headed by females. While women empowerment is central to the global development agenda and is a stepping stone to gender equality, a new report released by Statistics South   read more »


Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q2:2022

MEDIA RELEASE    Embargo: Tuesday 23 August 2022, 11h30 AM Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q2:2022 The official unemployment rate was 33,9% in the second quarter of 2022. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has, today (23 August 2022), issued the results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for Q2: 2022. These results indicate that   read more »


Nearly half of SA women are out of the labour force in Q2:2022

Nearly half of SA women are out of the labour force in Q2:2022

Globally, women who are looking for work and are available to work have a tougher time finding work than men. This phenomenon is more pronounced in South Africa, with higher unemployment rates for the general population as compared to the rest of the world. In 2022, 47,0% of South African women were recorded as economically   read more »


Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q3:2021

MEDIA RELEASE 30 November 2021 Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) – Q3:2021 The official unemployment rate was 34,9% in the third quarter of 2021. The results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the third quarter of 2021 show that the number of employed persons decreased by 660 000 in the third quarter of   read more »


The South African economy sheds more than half a million jobs in the 3rd quarter of 2021

The South African economy sheds more than half a million jobs in the 3rd quarter of 2021

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the 3rd quarter of 2021, the number of employed persons declined by 660 000 to 14,3 million compared to the 2nd quarter of 2021. The decline in employment is coupled with a decline in the number of unemployed persons to 7,6 million from 7,8 million, resulting in   read more »


South African labour market is more favourable to men than women

South African labour market is more favourable to men than women

Equal opportunity and equal treatment in the labour market are at the core of decent work. Unfortunately, women in South Africa and around the world still face additional challenges that hinder them from accessing employment. Once they are in employment, appointments to decision-making positions and jobs in certain sectors, or of certain characteristics, remain elusive.   read more »


Realizing women’s rights for an equal future on Women’s Day

Realizing women’s rights for an equal future on Women’s Day

There is no doubt that South Africa has made significant progress towards achieving gender equality since 1956, when 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. Activists rebelled against a patriarchal system designed to control women and reduce them to submissive beings   read more »


Youth still find it difficult to secure jobs in South Africa

Youth still find it difficult to secure jobs in South Africa

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto. In 1994, the new democratic government declared 16 June as National Youth Day and June as the Youth Month. With the focus on the youth under the theme: “The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Growing youth employment for an inclusive   read more »


More people participate in the South African labour market in the 4th quarter of 2020

More people participate in the South African labour market in the 4th quarter of 2020

According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), there was an increase of 333 000 in the number of employed persons, an increase of 701 000 in the number of unemployed persons and a decrease of 890 000 in the number of people who are out of the labour force, in the 4th quarter of 2020 compared to   read more »


P0211 - Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS)

This publication contains results of a Quarterly Labour Force Survey first conducted in January 2008, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of the South African labour market, producing indicators such as employment, unemployment and inactivity. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including the official unemployment rate.read more »


P0211.3 - Volunteer activities survey

This publication contains results of a Quarterly Labour Force Survey first conducted in January 2008, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of the South African labour market, producing indicators such as employment, unemployment and inactivity. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including the official unemployment rate.read more »


P0211.2 - Monthly earnings of South Africans

This publication contains results of a Quarterly Labour Force Survey first conducted in January 2008, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of the South African labour market, producing indicators such as employment, unemployment and inactivity. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including the official unemployment rate.read more »


P0210 - Labour Force Survey (LFS)

This publication contains results of a rotating panel household survey first conducted in 2000, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of employment and unemployment in the country. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including unemployment rates (official and expanded). Results for 2000 were published as discussion documents. read more »


P0211.1 - Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Additional aspects of the labour market in South Africa: Informal employment, Underemployment and underutilised labour, Unemployment

This publication contains results of a Quarterly Labour Force Survey first conducted in January 2008, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of the South African labour market, producing indicators such as employment, unemployment and inactivity. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including the official unemployment rate.read more »


Tsolwana

Tsolwana Local Municipality has two main urban centres, Tarkastad and Hofmeyr, and about 11 rural villages scattered within the former Ntabethemba area, including Thornhill, Mitford, Rocklands, Tendergate, etc.  Tsolwana covers an area of approximately 6 000 square km in extent with a density of about six people per square km. The extent of local area of jurisdiction translates to 4,2% of the district as a whole.

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Intsika Yethu

The Intsika Yethu Local Municipality is a category B municipality. It is one of the eight local municipalities found within the Chris Hani District Municipality.

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Engcobo

Engcobo Local Municipality is located in the Chris Hani District of the Eastern Cape, the second largest province in terms of land coverage on the south-eastern seaboard of South Africa. Engcobo consists of 20 wards, extends over 2 258,78km² with a population of 155 513, and constitutes 19,6% of the total population of the district, as per the Census 2011 information.

The majority of the population is female (56%).  There are about 66 people per square kilometre.  The population is predominantly black African, followed by an insignificant number of Asians/Indians, coloureds and whites.

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Nyandeni

This municipality is one of the five that make up the O.R. Tambo District Municipality. It comprises two magisterial areas, viz. Libode and Ngqeleni. It has a largely rural/traditional character. It is bordered in the south-west by the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality. In the north, it is bordered by the Mhlontlo Local Municipality and in the east by the Ntabankulu, Ingquza Hill and Port St John Local Municipalities. The population according to Census 2011 is 290 390 people, which is 21,3% of the population of O.R. Tambo District. In 2001, the population was 274 416 people, which constituted 21,2% of the district population.

The municipality covers an area of 4 231 square kilometers, which gives a population density of 68,6 persons per square kilometer. The municipality’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture.

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Nelson Mandela Bay

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is located on the south- eastern coast of Africa in the Eastern Cape.  It is one of eight category A municipalities in South Africa.  In 2001, the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality was formed as an administrative area covering Port Elizabeth, the neighbouring towns of Uitenhage and Despatch, and the surrounding agricultural areas.  Nelson Mandela Bay is a major seaport and automotive manufacturing centre.

The Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) is situated within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.  The initiative is a multibillion-dollar industrial development complex customized for heavy, medium and light industries.  It is adjacent to a deepwater port, the Port of Ngqura, and covers 110 km² of land.  The city’s unique advantage of possessing two ports, namely Port Elizabeth Harbour and Ngqura, creates an opportunity for the city to establish a strong and vibrant maritime sector.

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Work & Labour Force

There are different forms of work, these include work as employment (work to generate income), unpaid work which includes volunteer work and domestic work for own final household consumption. Statistics South Africa measures all forms of work including work which should be abolished like child labour.

Work as employment is measured from two sources, establishment surveys and household based surveys. The Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) is establishment based while The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) is a household based survey. The two sources differ in coverage, scope, unit of measurement and method of collection. Because of these differences, the two sources yield different figures. However, the two sources should be regarded as complementary rather than competitive.

Each source has advantages and limitations in terms of statistics yielded. The QES covers non-agricultural formal sector employment while the QLFS covers total employment in all industries and sectors. The QLFS can also provide information on demographic characteristics of the labour force (employment and unemployment) which the QES cannot provide.

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Unemployment

Employment is a key economic indicator and it is sensitive to the business cycle. For example employment peaked in 2008 to approximately 13,8 million when the economy was better. However, during the recession of 2009 and 2010 approximately 806 000 persons lost their jobs. After these two successive years of decline, employment grew by 204 000 and 258 000 persons in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Community & social services industry contributed the most to the growth in employment observed in the past two years. This was followed by Finance and other business services.read more »


Economic Growth

The diverse structure of the South African economy is a critical aspect of its historical and current growth performance.  The manufacturing sector continues to occupy a significant share of the South Africa economy, despite its relative importance declining from 19 percent in 1993 to about 17 percent in 2012 in real terms.

In line with structural changes in many economies, it not surprising to observe that the finance, real estate and business services sector has increase its relative importance of 17 per cent in 1993 to approximately 24 per cent in 2012. These two sectors and a few more are an important part of the South African growth story since the dawn of democracy.

Despite that, less than a decade into the 21st century, many countries, including South Africa, experienced the global economic crisis.This has affected economic growth in South Africa over the last four years, prompting a deceleration in rate of economic growth.

South Africa experienced an average growth rate of approximately 5 per cent in real terms between 2004 and 2007. However, the period 2008 to 2012 only recorded average growth just above 2 per cent; largely a result of the global economic recession.

Of the nine provinces in South Africa, three power houses stand out. Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal and Western Cape collectively contribute a significant portion to the country’s value added, reported at over 60 percent.

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Inflation

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) are the two primary measures of inflation for South Africa. Both indicators are published on a monthly basis.The Consumer Price Index tracks the rate of change in the prices of goods and services purchased by consumers. The headline CPI is used as the inflation target measure which guides the South African Reserve Bank on the setting of interest rates.

The Producer Price Index tracks the rate of change in the prices charged by producers of goods. Stats SA publishes PPIs for different industries with the PPI for final manufactured goods being the headline PPI. Additional PPIs are compiled for Agriculture, forestry and fishing; Mining and quarrying; Electricity and water; Intermediate manufactured goods; Imports and Exports; and Construction.

The PPI is widely used by businesses as a contract escalator and as a general indicator of inflationary pressures in the economy.

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Agricultural Statistics

The history of agricultural statistics in South Africa goes back as far back as the beginning of the 20th century. With the exception of the World Wars and great depression years, an agricultural census was conducted on annual basis in the first half of the 20th century. As agriculture’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) decreased over the years, so did the frequency of conducting agricultural censuses. Post 1994, agricultural censuses have been conducted on a five yearly basis, with annual surveys being conducted in between the census years. Until now, agricultural censuses and surveys have largely concentrated on commercial agriculture leaving out small-scale and subsistence agriculture. In 2009, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) conducted an audit of agricultural statistics in the country. One of the findings was that the country lacked information on smallholder and subsistence agriculture. The current list of farmers being used to conduct surveys was mainly confined to commercial agriculture. A decision was taken that three questions related to agriculture would be included in the Population Census 2011 (Census 2011) questionnaire. The main objective was to identify all households involved in agriculture in the country, so that a complete frame of all individuals and entities involved in agriculture (both subsistence and commercial) could be generated. This will allow for a comprehensive agricultural census to be conducted.read more »