106 000 new posts created in W Cape

SOUTH Africa’s unemployment rate eased to 26.7% of the labour force in the fourth quarter last year, from 27.7% in the previous three months, the statistics agency said yesterday.

In its household-based quarterly labour force survey, Statistics SA (Stats SA) said the working-age population grew 152 000 or 0.4% during the fourth quarter, while the labour force declined by 351 000 people.

Both employment and unemployment decreased in the quarter, resulting in a one percentage point in the jobless rate.

Stats SA said the employment gains recorded in the informal sector (119 000 people) and agriculture (39 000) were offset by job losses in the formal and private household sectors (135 000 and 43 000, respectively). This resulted in employment declines of 21 000 between the third and fourth quarters.

The stats agency collects data on the labour market activities of individuals aged 15 years and older who live in South Africa for the survey, but its report only covers labour market activities of those aged 15-64 years.

In the Western Cape, 92 000 jobs were created in the last quarter of 2017.

Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde said there was also year-on-year increase in the number of jobs created, with 106 000 jobs added.

Among the key performing sectors were finance, which saw a quarterly growth of 8.3%, representing an addition of 35 000 jobs, and community and social services which recorded double digit growth of 10.2%.

“While jobs in the agriculture sector in the province also saw quarter-on-quarter growth, this is largely due to the commencement of the harvest season. The province saw a quarterly increase in agriculture jobs of 21%, equating to 34 000 jobs. Looking at agriculture employment year-on-year, however, gives an indication of the impact of the drought on the sector,” Winde said.

A year-on-year comparison of jobs in the sector shows a 23% decline in employment, representing 57 000 jobs. With Project Khulisa, an employment creation initiative, a target of creating 260 000 jobs was set.

Between December 2014 and December last year, about 322 000 were created. “We have seen good growth in employment in our province in the last quarter, with jobs being created in the agriculture space despite the drought.

“Our farmers managed to weather the worst of the drought last year, but are now faced with severe reductions. These latest job gains represent our continued drive toward creating employment and growing the economy of our region, our number one strategic goal as a government,” Winde said.