South Africa reported an estimated 8 992 000 jobs in the formal non-agricultural sector in December 2015, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said in a statement yesterday.
Statistician general Pali Lehohla said employment had increased by 43 000 jobs quarter-on-quarter, from 8 949 000 in September 2015 to 8 992 000 in December 2015.
According to Lehohla, gains had been observed in trade, finance and other business services as well as in community and social services.
The survey noted that the quarterly growth in trade had been driven by retail trade which had grown by 34 000 and hotels and restaurants which had grown by 6 000.
The mining industry continued its decline in the fourth quarter by 14 000 employees while construction declined both quarter on quarter (8 000) and year-on-year (19 000).
