The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) data for the second quarter of 2020 was published by Statistics South Africa on 29 September. The most important findings are the relatively heavy hit that the COVID-19 pandemic inflicted on lower-level workers, especially informal workers who are typically engaged in low paying and precarious work. The QLFS finds that the number of
employed people decreased from 16.4 million in the first quarter of 2020 to 14.2 million in the second quarter, for a loss of
2.3 million jobs or 13.5%.
This policy brief looks at the impact of COVID-19 on employment in quarter two of 2020, with a focus on trends in formal sector employment, sectoral employment and implications for race and gender inequality, particularly in vulnerable sectors. It looks at the impact on industries in which many women work, such as private households and community services, and makes some policy recommendations.
Read online: Employment trends in the South African economy