{"id":24857,"date":"2013-10-30T15:45:19","date_gmt":"2013-10-30T13:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/2013\/10\/sa-unemployment-rate-eases-by-0-9-in-third-quarter\/"},"modified":"2013-10-30T15:45:19","modified_gmt":"2013-10-30T13:45:19","slug":"sa-unemployment-rate-eases-by-0-9-in-third-quarter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/sa-unemployment-rate-eases-by-0-9-in-third-quarter\/","title":{"rendered":"SA unemployment rate eases by 0.9% in third quarter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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South Africa\u2019s unemployment rate eased to 24.7% in the third quarter of 2013, down from 25.6% in the second quarter, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) announced on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe unemployment rate decreased by 0.9% of a percentage point from 25.6% in quarter two 2013 to 24.7% in quarter three of 2013,\u201d said Stats SA as it released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the third quarter.<\/p>\n

The QLFS is a household-based sample survey conducted by Stats SA. It collects data on the labour market activities of individuals aged 15 years and above, who live in South Africa.<\/p>\n

Stats SA said that quarter-to-quarter employment increased by 308 000 in the third quarter, while the number of those seeking jobs fell by 114 000.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis resulted in an increase of 194 000 in the labour force,\u201d noted Stats SA, adding that the formal sector and private households contributed positively in the increase in employment.<\/p>\n

The growth in employment was driven by growth in the formal sector, where quarter-to-quarter job gains were 314 000, while the informal sector lost 39 000 jobs.<\/p>\n

Nedbank economists said the rise in formal sector jobs was encouraging.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rise in formal sector jobs is encouraging. However, this does not reflect a sustained increase in job levels. Subdued economic growth on the back of still weak, although improving, global conditions and lacklustre domestic output growth points towards job creation remaining generally slow in the next few quarters,\u201d said Nedbank on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Trade, community and finance and other business services in the quarter-to-quarter results were revealed as the largest contributors to the 308 000 net gain in employment, with trade gaining 100 000 jobs and community and social services gaining 96 000 jobs, said Stats SA.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompared to a year ago, in quarter three of 2013, employment increased by 2.8% (383 000), and unemployment decreased by 1.2% (58 000),\u201d said Stats SA.<\/p>\n

According to the survey, the number of discouraged work seekers (people who are willing and are able to work but are not actively looking for employment) \u2013 fell by 125 000 to 2.24 million during the quarter.<\/p>\n

The economists said they expect the Reserve Bank\u2019s Monetary Policy Committee to keep interest rates unchanged.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese numbers \u2026 confirm that demand-driven inflation remains subdued. We therefore expect the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates unchanged well into 2014 as it strikes a balance between high cost-push inflation and modest domestic growth,\u201d said Nedbank.<\/p>\n

The central bank will hold its last Monetary Policy Committee meeting for the year from 19 \u2013 21 November. \u2013 SAnews.gov.za<\/p>\n