Today's Labour News

newsThis news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.

SA jobs declined 119,000 in second quarter, with recovery to pre-pandemic levels unlikely in the near term

Details

Stats SABusiness Report writes that Statistics SA released employment statistics for the second quarter on Tuesday, which showed a 1.2% decrease over the previous quarter.

Economists noted that a jobs recovery to pre-pandemic levels might still be some way off. QES data on Tuesday revealed that the number of people employed in SA decreased by 119 000, or -1.2% quarter-on-quarter, from 10,067,000 in March to 9,948,000 in June. Total employment in the country increased by 74,000, or 0.7% year-on-year between June 2021 and June 2022. The decrease in the quarter was attributed to the following industries: community services (down 100,000 or -3.4%), business services (down 15,000 or -0.6%), construction (down 13,000 or -2.4%), manufacturing (down 12,000 or -1% lower), and electricity (down 1,000 or -1.7% lower). Lower job losses in the community services sector was most likely linked to temporary census work. Meanwhile, employment gains were recorded in trade (17,000 or 0.8%), followed by mining (4,000 or 0.9%). Employment growth in trade was led by restaurants and hotels (2.5% quarter-on-quarter), highlighting the ongoing recovery in tourism. Full-time employment declined by 16,000 jobs quarter-on-quarter and by 80,000, or - 0.9%, year-on-year. Part-time employment decreased by 103,000, or 8.4%, quarter-on-quarter, from 1,225,000 in March 2022 to 1,122,000 in June 2022. Average monthly earnings paid to non-farm employees in SA rose 3.7% quarter-on-quarter, or 4.5% year-on-year, so not keeping pace with consumer price inflation.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Philippa Larkin at Business Report
  • Read too, Sharp fall in formal employment in second quarter as economy contracted, load-shedding persisted, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)


Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page