Occupation and Skill Structure of Manpower in South Africa: A Critical Analysis of Manpower Survey Data

Abstract

The Manpower Survey conducted by the Central Statistical Service provides detailed information on occupational structure by the major population groups and economic sectors in the formal economy. Occupational data can be aggregated to major occupational groups or to skill levels. Even at such highly aggregated levels, variability from one survey to the next is such that no useful trend information can be extracted for surveys after 1983. The trend data up to that year indicate a very significant increase in highly skilled groups at the expense of the lesser skilled. The absence of income data greatly diminishes the value of the MS as a comprehensive data source.