Government today welcomed the latest jobs statistics published by Statistics South Africa that indicates strong jobs growth in the past quarter ending September 2013.
Employment was up by 308 000 for the quarter and more crucially, by 383 000 for the twelve months ending in September 2013.
Quarterly unemployment numbers are down by 114 000 and there were 125 000 fewer discouraged work-seekers for the three months period.
The unemployment rate went down by close to a percentage point, to 24,7%.
Total employment has now reached just over 14 million, marginally above the highest employment level ever reached by the economy. The previous highest employment level was in the fourth quarter of 2008, before the global economic recession led to very significant job losses.
Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel today welcomed the results.
"The strong jobs growth during a period of global economic uncertainty is good news. Since the adoption of the New Growth Path in October 2010, the economy has created just more than a million new jobs. This is also the largest quarterly jobs growth in the past 22 quarters and the annual jobs numbers are up for most sectors. Our high unemployment levels require high job creation over a sustained period for us to meet our target of five million new jobs by 2020," Minister Patel said.
"The annual jobs numbers in infrastructure related sectors are encouraging, with a growth of 58 000 in the construction and public utilities sectors. While public employment levels grew strongly, the data shows a robust private sector contribution to jobs growth. Manufacturing job performance was, however, disappointing with job losses in this key sector of the economy," he said.
"KwaZulu-Natal recovered strongly with 134 000 new jobs after weak performance in the previous quarter. Seven of the nine provinces showed an expansion of employment. Youth employment performed well for the quarter, with about 160 000 new jobs for young people, which is more than half the total new jobs created. Given the very high levels of youth unemployment, we need to further strengthen efforts to bring young people into productive employment," Minister Patel said.
"Deeper partnerships on the shop-floor between business and labour, sustaining the state's infrastructure investment programme and expanding the level of private sector investment are all key to building on these positive employment results," Minister Patel said.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 071 3134192
E-mail: mwolela@economic.gov.za
