Work Programme - Statistics South Africa

2.1.3 Employment, job creation and decent work
South Africa needs much faster growth, sustained over a decade or more, to reduce poverty and
unemployment in line with the objectives set out in the New Growth Path. Growth must not only be rapid – it also needs
the 2009 recession and job creation is a core focus over the medium term. Government will continue to promote an
environment conducive to private-sector growth and investment to generate employment. (Medium Term Budget Policy
Statement, 2011)
Strategic objective:
Objective statement:
Expand the statistical information base by increasing its depth, breadth and geographic spread
Inform social and economic planning, monitoring and decision-making by improving the
measurement of the labour market
Baseline: Number of statistical releases on the labour market: 8
This objective will contribute to measure employment, job creation and decent work by providing
statistical information on labour market trends and employment and earnings
Links:
This objective will contribute in measuring ‘decent employment through inclusive economic
66
Quarterly Labour Force Survey:
labour market information in South Africa. It collects data on the labour market activities of individuals aged 15 years and
older. The labour market information relates to three categories, namely employment, unemployment and inactivity. On
industry, occupation, hours of work and decent work indicators. On unemployment (apart from levels of unemployment and
also provided in relation to whether the unemployed are job losers, job leavers, new entrants or re-entrants into the labour
homemakers and pensioners.
Initiatives to expand the labour market statistical information base over the medium term include providing panel data for
longitudinal analysis and implementing supplementary modules on activities of young people and time use. A module on
during 2012.
Quarterly Employment Survey:
on employment and earnings in the formal, non-agricultural sector. The need to improve employment data at the detailed
industry level remains a priority. Initiatives to expand the statistical information base over the medium term include research
into industry and occupation details at a lower level for selected industries, and conducting research to collect new
the South Africa I know, the home I understand