Johannesburg - Employment increased in the second quarter of
2012, with 322 000 jobs added over the past 12 months, Statistics SA reported
on Tuesday,
Nearly half of South Africans were employed in the community
and social services sectors, and trade. These two sectors accounted for 44.5%
of total employment.
"This is the fourth consecutive quarter of significant
year-on-year growth," said Stats SA spokeswoman Kefiloe Masiteng.
Compared to the first quarter of 2012, there were 25 000
more jobs. This increase was driven mainly by the formal sector, which added 62
000 jobs during the quarter.
Community and social sectors created 121 000 jobs during the
quarter, and construction added 26 000 jobs.
However, trade and manufacturing lost 91 000 jobs and 44 000
jobs respectively.
The informal sector and agriculture lost 21 000 and 18 000
jobs respectively.
The formal sector accounted for 71.2% of total employment
for the second quarter.
Since the third quarter of 2010, when employment rates were
at their lowest levels, 472 000 jobs had been added.
The unemployment rate declined from 25.2% to 24.9%.
Nearly 60% of those unemployed did not have matric, while
43% were new entrants into the labour market.
The Western Cape and Gauteng lost 45 000 jobs, while
Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape gained jobs since the previous
quarter.
Mpumalanga gained jobs in trade (21 000) and construction
(12 000). Limpopo gained jobs in trade (13 000) and agriculture (11 000). The
Eastern Cape gained 27 000 jobs in community and social services, and 13 000 in
agriculture.