SOUTH AFRICA aims to create five million jobs by 2020 but has only created 624000 over the last decade, according to a survey released yesterday.
"The data, which is sourced from Statistics SA, shows that total employment has increased by an average of only 0,5% a year since 2001," the SA Institute of Race Relations said in a statement.
SAIRR researcher Lucy Holborn said the rate of job creation would need to rise nearly 10 times to meet the government's job creation targets.
Total employment increased by 624000 in the last 10 years, according to the latest South Africa Survey, to be published by the SAIRR this week.
"Since 1994 the most jobs in any single year were created between 1997 and 1998, when total employment increased by 1,8-million," Holborn said.
But, in 2010 South Africa lost 833000 jobs compared to 2009 - the biggest jobs loss under democracy.
Holborn said the data showed how difficult it would be to meet the 2020 target, given the trend over the past decade.
"However, in just two years between 1997 and 1999, 3,7 million jobs were created. External economic factors, labour regulation, and policies affecting investor sentiment will all play a role in determining how much employment will increase over the next decade," she said. The official unemployment rate was 25% in the third quarter of 2011, according to Statistics SA.
5-million jobs still slippery
SOUTH AFRICA aims to create five million jobs by 2020 but has only created 624000 over the last decade, according to a survey released yesterday.
"The data, which is sourced from Statistics SA, shows that total employment has increased by an average of only 0,5% a year since 2001," the SA Institute of Race Relations said in a statement.
SAIRR researcher Lucy Holborn said the rate of job creation would need to rise nearly 10 times to meet the government's job creation targets.
Total employment increased by 624000 in the last 10 years, according to the latest South Africa Survey, to be published by the SAIRR this week.
"Since 1994 the most jobs in any single year were created between 1997 and 1998, when total employment increased by 1,8-million," Holborn said.
But, in 2010 South Africa lost 833000 jobs compared to 2009 - the biggest jobs loss under democracy.
Holborn said the data showed how difficult it would be to meet the 2020 target, given the trend over the past decade.
"However, in just two years between 1997 and 1999, 3,7 million jobs were created. External economic factors, labour regulation, and policies affecting investor sentiment will all play a role in determining how much employment will increase over the next decade," she said. The official unemployment rate was 25% in the third quarter of 2011, according to Statistics SA.
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