Farm jobs up despite dark days of rising unemployment

The latest Statistics SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) indicates that the number of employed persons decreased by 54 000 in the second quarter of 2021 to 14,9 million but farm jobs increased during the period.

The number of unemployed people increased by 584 000 to 7,8 million, compared to the first quarter of 2021. These changes resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing from 32,6% in the first quarter of 2021 to 34,4% in the second quarter of 2021 – the highest since the start of the QLFS in 2008.

But there was some positive news for the agricultural sector which although it recorded a decline in the number of skilled jobs, the number of general worker jobs rose in the sector for the period.

The unemployment rate, according to the expanded definition of unemployment, increased by 1,2 percentage points to 44,4% in quarter 2:2021 compared to quarter 1:2021. 

South Africa’s unemployment rate has been recorded as the highest compared to their African counterparts such as Namibia and Nigeria. 

However, AgriSA noted on Tuesday that the agricultural sector had observed farm employment gains of 69 000 with provinces such as the Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo recording an increase in employment. Decreases of 19000, 9000, 8000 and 18 000 were noted in the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, respectively.

Most concerning is that the sector continuing to see a decrease in skilled agriculture as it records a loss in employment from 62 000 in Q1:2021 to 45 000 in Q2:2021.  This is a 27,4% quarter to quarter decrease and a 33,2% year on year decrease. Skilled agriculture is defined as persons who have undergone training or education in and/or outside his/her work environment and who are in possession of a minimum level of secondary qualification to qualify for their occupation. Stats SA Concepts and Definitions 2010.

However, the sector saw an increase in general worker employment for the period according to the below table:

“The increase of employment in the agricultural sector is showing the sector’s commitment to job creation, food security and growth of the economy despite many challenges,” says Lebogang Sethusha, industrial relations administrator of Agri SA. 

“The organisation, however, is concerned about the quarter-to-quarter decrease of skilled workers, indicating the loss of skills within its workforce. This places a great emphasis on accelerating efforts in skills development in the sector.” 

To address the farming sector’s skills shortage Agri SA’s subsidiary, Agri SA Enterprises has established the Agri Enterprises Training and Development Academy with the sole purpose of providing industry specific training in scarce skills within the sector. 

“We can develop a community of lifelong learners, responsible citizens and champions of industries,” Sethusha said.