The number of people in the labour force increased by 121 000 between third and fourth quarters of 2010, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday.
The agency said in its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the fourth quarter of 2010 that employment also increased by 157 000 between quarters three and four, with the formal sector and the informal sector gaining 120 000 and 53 000 jobs respectively.
The report said the agriculture industry lost 13 000 jobs, while private households remained virtually unchanged.
The number of unemployed persons decreased by 259 000 between the quarters, while the number of “discouraged work-seekers” increased by 117 000.
“The unemployment rate declined by 1,3% between quarter three, 2010 [from 25,3%] and quarter 2010 [to 24%),” the report published in Pretoria on Tuesday said.
“Compared to quarter four 2009, there was an annual decrease of 0,9% [118 000] in employment, a decrease of 2,1% [89,000] in the number of unemployed persons, and an increase of 5% [711,000] in the number of persons who are not economically active — 440 000 of which were discouraged work-seekers.” — Sapa