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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 1271
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
Mr P D Dexter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Economic Development:
Since the start of the recession, how many jobs have been (a) lost and (b)
created? NW1618E
REPLY
Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) figures are the basis of tracking
employment in the economy. There are two surveys, namely the Quarterly
Employment Survey (QES) and the Labour Force Survey (LFS). These surveys
reflect net employment, i.e. the difference between new jobs created and
jobs lost.
The LFS is a household-based sample survey of both formal and informal
labour activities of individuals above the age of 15 whereas the QES is a
survey of enterprises in the formal non-agricultural business sector.
The data does not allow for a separation of jobs created and lost by
sector, but rather for net changes in employment by sector. Certain sectors
would therefore reflect net job losses and others net job gains. The
aggregate data in turn reflects the net figures for the economy as a whole.
The data reveals that job losses have been widespread across the economy.
However, the governmentâs response to the crisis, in particular the impact
on the construction sector of pressing ahead with much needed
infrastructure investment has been acting to counter the employment losses
from the recession, although not sufficiently to outweigh them.
Much depends on the dates over which employment figures are compared and
which survey is used.
The contraction of the economy started in the fourth quarter of 2008. The
most significant impact was felt during the first two quarters of 2009.
Labour Force Survey
The following are the key findings of the LFS since the beginning of the
recession, that is, from the fourth quarter of 2008.
For the six month period since 1 January 2009 to end June 2009, the
position is as follows. At end December 2008, total employment stood at 13
844 000. By the end of June 2009, total employment was 13 369 000 which
indicates 475 000 net job losses over the six-month period.
At the end of the third quarter of 2008 on 30 September 2008, ie the date
prior to the contraction of the economy as measured by quarterly GDP
figures, total employment stood at 13 655 000. By the end of June 2009,
total employment was 13 369 000 which indicates 286 000 net job losses over
the nine-month period.
Compared for a 12 month period, the total employment at the end of June
2008 was 13 729 000 and at the end of June 2009, it was 13 369 000 which
indicates 360 000 net job losses over the 12 month period.
Quarterly Employment Survey
The following are the key findings of the QES since the beginning of the
recession, that is, from the fourth quarter of 2008.
For the six month period since 1 January 2009 to end June 2009, the
position is as follows. At end December 2008, total employment (excluding
agriculture and the informal economy) stood at 8 512 000. By the end of
June 2009, the corresponding employment was 8 259 000 which indicates 253
000 net job losses (excluding agriculture and the informal economy) over
the six-month period.
At the end of the third quarter of 2008 on 30 September 2008, ie the date
prior to the contraction of the economy as measured by quarterly GDP
figures, total employment (excluding agriculture and the informal economy)
stood at 8 492 000. By the end of June 2009, the corresponding figure stood
at 8 259 000 which indicates 233 000 net job losses (excluding agriculture
and the informal economy) over the 12 month period.
Compared for a 12 month period, the total employment (excluding agriculture
and the informal economy) at the end of June 2008 was 8 457 000 and at the
end of June 2009, it was 8 259 000 which indicates 198 000 net job losses
(excluding agriculture and the informal economy) over the period.