REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS
and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA
243.
The workforce population distribution is based on the Quarterly Labour Force Survey
(QLFS) published by Statistics South Africa on the Economically Active Population.154 The
EAP is meant to assist employers during the analysis of their workforce to determine the
degree of under-representation of the designated groups. Further, it guides employers
by assisting them in the setting of their numerical goals and targets in order to achieve
an equitable and representative workforce.
244.
With an unemployment rate of around 25%, South Africa's biggest challenge is the
creation of jobs. The global recession of 2008 had a negative effect on the local labour
market. However, the market is gradually recovering and this is expected to help
employment figures. South Africa has a workforce of more than 18-million people (this
includes those either working or available to work and actively seeking work). Of these,
around 13,5-million are employed in the formal sector (9,6-million), the informal sector
(2,2-million), agriculture (685 000) and private households (1,1-million).
245.
The rate of unemployment remains high on the government agenda. Table 2 below
shows the unemployment rate in South Africa, during the period under review:
Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
246.
Percentage
27,2
27,1
24,7
23,8
22,6
22,3
22,7
23,7
24,7
24,7
25
24,6
Government has undertaken various programmes and initiatives to create decent jobs.
In the last five years of the review period alone, government has spent more than R100
billion on employment programmes, including municipal and provincial spending. More
than 4 million job opportunities were funded over this time. Allocations will continue to
grow strongly, and 6 million job opportunities will be created over the next five years.
Some of these initiatives include –
Government established a jobs fund of R9 billion to finance new job-creation
initiatives over the next three years.
154
The Economically Active Population (EAP) which includes people from 15 to 64 years of age who are either
employed or unemployed and seeking employment.
71