Speaking at the release of a positive employment index by the group, Loane Sharp, labour economist at employment services group Adcorp, said the country's mining sector employs about 523,000 workers - far lower than the 839,000 the sector had in the late 1980s.
"The 200,000 estimate is based on historical trends in the mining sector. What we've noticed is that labour unrest results in long-term job losses in the sector," Sharp said, adding that the index showed employment improved last month for the first time since April, rising an annualised 1.61% after declines in August. This meant that job gains amounted to 25,855 in the month mainly on jobs added in the services sectors.
Adcorp's employment index is regarded as the most representative monthly barometer of employment trends in South Africa, BDlive says.
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