Formal sector employment rises, education accounts for the lion’s share

This is a steady progression from the 511, 338 people who were engaged in the formal sector in 2008, and went up to 610, 714 in 2012.

According to the report which was launched in Lusaka, 847,420 people were now employed in the formal sector against 4,652, 253 people in the informal sector.

CSO director-general John Kalumbi said the data was collected between November and December 2012.

Mr Kalumbi said the survey was conducted by the CSO in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

The report states that of the formal sector employed persons, 71.2 per cent were males and 28.8 per cent were females.

Formal sector employment was highest in Lusaka Province and lowest in Luapula.

On the other hand, the highest percentage share of informal sector employment was recorded in Luapula Province, at 96.0 per cent, with the lowest being 68.7 per cent in Lusaka Province.

The report further states that out of more than 847,000 people in formal employment in Zambia, the education industry accounted for the highest percentage share of 16.0 per cent followed by the trade, wholesale and retail distribution at 13.0 per cent.

The lowest percentage share was the real estate activities industry at 0.2 per cent.

The report further states that out of the 4,652,253 employed population in the informal sector, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries recorded the highest percentage share of 59.9 per cent followed by the activities of households as employers with 15.4 per cent.

Mr Kalumbi said the data in the survey would go a long way in providing the necessary information for the formulation of important public and private policies to attain efficient and adequate developmental targets.

In another development, about 1, 500 jobs are expected to be created during the construction of the Mukuba Shopping Mall in Kitwe.

Heriot Properties Limited, which is developing the mall, has undertaken to invest more than US$30 million to put up a world-class shopping mall in Parklands, at the former Kitwe Zoo. The mall is expected to be completed in April 2015.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Emmanuel Chenda said more than 1,000 jobs would be created during the construction phase and 500 direct jobs when fully operational.

Mr Chenda said in a speech read for him by his deputy Miles Sampa at a ground-breaking ceremony in Kitwe yesterday that the Government had put in place various policy measures in line with the party manifesto which propagates pro-poor inclusive growth.

He said the Government believed in an economic growth model that creates wealth and jobs for Zambians and ultimately contribute to the reduction of poverty.

[Times of Zambia]