MORE THAN half-a-million jobs were created in the country between March 2005 and March 2006, according to the Labour Force Survey by Statistics South Africa. This reflects a slight decline in the unemployment rate, from last year’s 26.5% to 25.6% in March this year. The trade industry made the single largest contribution to total employment, whereas the utilities, mining and transport contributed the least. Trade accounted for over 2 million jobs or 24% of total employment in March this year. During the same period, the community and service industry was the second largest provider of employment with over 17%.
