Q4 growth for employment in agricultural sector
Stats SA released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) which indicated overall growth in the sector between Q3 and Q4.
Employment in the agricultural sector increased by 38 000 jobs in the last quarter of 2021, highlighting the importance of this sector to the South African economy.
Stats SA released its Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) on 29 March, which indicated overall growth in the sector between Q3 and Q4.
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There was an increase in jobs, from 829 000 in Q3 to 868 000 in Q4, with year-on-year employment numbers up by 57 000 jobs, having stood at 810 000 in Q4 of 2020.
According to Agri SA, various provinces showed growth, although some jobs were shed in the Western Cape (down by 19 000), the Free State (down 6 000) and Limpopo (down 9 000).
Agri SA noted employment in skilled agriculture has not recovered to the level of Q4 for 2020.
The Q4 2021 result shows that 68 000 people were employed in skilled agriculture for that period, compared to the same quarter in 2020 when 85 000 people were employed.
This is a 20.6% decrease year-on-year.
While the quarter-on-quarter results do show a level of recovery (skilled employment stood at 63 000 jobs in Q3 of 2021), there is still much ground to be made up.
Despite the recent QLFS results being positive overall, the sector’s growth continues to be stifled by poor infrastructure such as roads, rail and ports – among many other challenges like rising input costs.
In this difficult climate, the growth in employment in the sector for Q4 of 2021 shows the sector is still capable of absorbing labour and providing much-needed jobs to South Africans.
This potential to absorb labour – including many opportunities for those with low skills and education levels – and the continued trend of poor recovery in skilled employment numbers in the sector, point to the need for further investment in skills training for the agricultural sector.
According to a statement by Agri SA, the organisation is committed to creating new opportunities for the nation’s low-skilled workers, and to advancing effective skills training and education programmes.
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