SA employment sees 0,5% increase in Q4 – Stats SA

However, the country’s total employment decreased by 0,9% year-on-year between December 2021 and December 2022.

The quarterly employment statistics report, which was published by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, shows most of the jobs created in the last quarter were part-time, with an increase of 42 000 (4,9%) compared to the 6 000 (0,1%) increase for full-time jobs.

“The quarterly employment statistics survey shows that 9 968 000 people were employed. This is a quarterly increase of 48 000, but an annual decrease of 94 000,” said the director for quarterly employment statistics at Stats SA Matlapane Masupye.

“Breaking it down into full-time and part-time; the results show that 8 871 000 people were employed on a full-time basis, while 1 097 000 were employed on a part-time basis.”

According to Stats SA, the growth was largely due to increases in trade (49 000 or 2,3%), business services (9 000 or 0,4%), and mining (2 000 or 0,4%).

However, the construction, manufacturing, and electricity industries all marked decreases. 

"The transport and community services industries reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: construction (-10 000 or -1,9%), manufacturing (-1 000 or -0,1%) and electricity (-1 000 or -1,7%)." 

The stats come amid warnings by analysts of the impact of load shedding, which has stifled growth in the construction and manufacturing industries, which rely heavily on the uninterrupted supply of electricity.

The planned power cuts are expected to worsen during the coming winter months.

ALSO READ: