According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) for Q1:2025, young people aged 15 to 34 make up roughly 50,2% of South Africa’s working-age population, translating to approximately 20,9 million individuals. Within this cohort, the 15-24 age group—representing around 10,3 million individuals—faces the highest barriers to entering read more »
After a busy March, Stats SA’s publication schedule was quieter in April. Eighteen releases were published in the month. Business performance a mixed bag Several sectors were weaker in February on a year-on-year basis. These include mining; manufacturing; wholesale trade; motor trade; restaurants, catering & fast-food; road freight; and road passenger transport (Figure 1). Mining production read more »
Forestry & logging is the second smallest of 16 industries covered by Stats SA’s structural industry surveys. To get a sense of scale, manufacturing – the biggest of the 16 – is 82 times larger if income is used as a measuring tool. Explore the forestry & logging industry, as well as other stories, in read more »
Marriage, once a milestone eagerly reached in the early twenties, is now being postponed as individuals prioritise careers, personal growth, and independence. In modern times, love and commitment are no longer bound by age but by readiness. Across the globe, the traditional timeline for tying the knot is shifting, and South Africa is no exception. read more »
Stats SA had a bumper schedule in March, with 35 releases published on a wide range of topics. Key economic outputs included the latest gross domestic product (GDP) estimates, formal-sector employment, data on electricity generation and a comprehensive set of energy flow accounts. Agriculture, trade and finance push the economy forward After a bumpy third read more »
Despite a significant post-pandemic recovery, South Africa’s international tourism sector remains 12,8% below 2019 levels, highlighting the country’s slow path to full recovery. However, according to the Tourism, 2024 report released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South Africa remained a top destination in 2024, with a total of 8,9 million tourists arriving in the read more »
Discovering the pathways that energy takes through the economy is the aim of the latest set of physical energy flow accounts. The accounts, published in a recent discussion document in the Stats SA Natural Capital series, cover the period 2015 to 2021 and provide a detailed overview of the flow of energy from its source read more »
South Africa’s informal sector plays a crucial yet often overlooked role in the country’s economy, providing jobs and incomes for millions who struggle to find opportunities in the formal labour market. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), informal sector employment accounted for 19,5% of total read more »
After a challenging year of job losses, South Africa’s formal non-agricultural sector showed a glimmer of recovery in the final quarter of 2024. According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q4:2024) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), employment in the sector rose by 12 000 jobs, reaching 10,64 million by December 2024. This read more »
Following a contraction of 0,1% in the third quarter of 2024, the South African gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0,6% in the fourth quarter (October–December).1 Growth was led by agriculture, finance and trade on the supply (production) side of the economy. Household spending led growth on the demand (expenditure) side. Annually, the GDP grew read more »