South African labour market transitions during the global financial and economic crisis: Micro-level evidence

Abstract

This paper studies individual-level labour market transitions and their determinants in South Africa during the zenith and aftermath of the global financial and economic crisis using 2008 to 2010-2011 panel data from the National Income Dynamics Study and matched crosssections of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey over 2008Q1-2012Q4. We uncover considerable movement in South African labour markets over the crisis period. Chances of continued employment vary along gender, age and education levels and between different occupations and sectors. The time variation in the economic significance of some of these determinants remains however difficult to link to South Africa’s economic trajectory.