Business 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)
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