Formal sector shed 15,000 jobs in first quarter
Stats SA's Quarterly Employment Statistics shows that those in formal employment is down to 9.2 million and that the sector has shed 15,000 jobs.
The Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr Pali Lehohla, released the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) for the first quarter of 2016 at a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday.
"Employment in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy decreased by 0,2% (15 000 employees) to 9 273 000 in the first quarter of 2016, compared with the previous quarter," Stats SA said in a statement.
The QES measures changes in employment across all industries in the formal sector of the economy.
Employment decreased in all industries except for community services, construction, and electricity.
The largest job losses were recorded in the trade sector, followed by transport, mining and manufacturing.
The largest percentage decrease was recorded in:
- Trade (-1,8%)
- Transport (-1,1%)
- Mining (-0,9)
- Manufacturing (-0,7%)
- Business services (-0,4%)
Electricity, gas and water supply industry recorded no change in employment levels between the last quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.
The community services and construction industries recorded increased levels of employment over the same period, increasing by 1,7% and 0,6% respectively.