SA created 80 000 jobs in January – report
According to a report compiled by Adcorp, South Africa’s largest diversified employment-services firm, approximately 80 000 jobs were created in the South African economy in January 2012.
The report states that even thou the economy created 5% more jobs compared to December 2011, there is still a short fall of 420 000 jobs, which was the peak employment level achieved before the effects of global financial crisis hit in 2009.
The Adcorp Employment Index report, which was released on Monday, says that all employment sectors reported growth, especially the temporary work index.
“Notably temporary work (+7.1%) and agency work (+8.0%). Temporary work now represents 3.87 million workers or 30.1% of the workforce,” the report said.
Adcorp also reported that all sectors of the economy grew in January, with wholesale and retail, transport and logistics and government sectors topping the statistics.
The reported also noted that January’s numbers also show a slight narrowing of income inequalities, as real income numbers increased. This has been a steady, but slowly increasing trend over the past decade.
“In 2000, the average black South African earned 15% of the average white South African’s income, whereas in 2011, a typical black person earned 40% of a typical white person’s income,” said Adcorp.
With regards to employment statistics, the report said that, “all occupational categories reported growth in employment, but high-skilled categories (management and professionals) reported the strongest growth (+4.7%).”
It added that this result is, “reflecting the economy’s ongoing reorientation toward high-skilled positions”.
The report also made various recommendations to government, to help accelerate the employment growth rate.
Adcorp says that government should focus on improving the standards of education, which will in return narrow the income disparities and inequality levels which plague South African society.
In addition Adcorp says that South Africa’s labour laws need reviewing. The report suggest that emphasis should be placed on two specific laws which hinder small businesses in the country; these include dismissal protections and extension of bargaining agreements.
Adcorp’s last recommendation is for government to re-consider the immense red-tape that prevents skilled foreign workers to work in South Africa and thus impart knowledge and skills with local workers.
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