%0 Journal Article %T Magnitudes of South Africa¡¯s labour market, 2002-2020 and social implications %A Eric O. Udjo %J African Population Studies %D 2013 %I Union for African Population Studies %R 10.11564/27-1-9 %X 1. Introduction Knowledge about labour market size has severaluses. From an economic and development perspective,it can be used as a framework to inform policiesin human resource planning at micro- and macrolevelsfor efficient production of goods and services soas to enhance the wellbeing of people in a society[see Sinz (1984), Lindley (1988), Psacharopoulos(1991), Neugart and Schomann (2002), Reinberg andMarkus (2002), Ehrenberg (2003)]. Knowledge ofthe future size of the labour market is also valuablein employment creation strategies. Widespread concernabout economic and development planning inboth industrialised and less developed countries hasled to increasind in interest and efforts in preparingestimates of economic characteristics of the population.Furthermore, estimates of the economicallyactive population are needed to give an indication ofthe number and characteristics of the workers thatwill be available for employment in future years sothat appropriate plans and policies can be made(Shryock, Siegel and Associates, 1976). Without adequateinformation about the magnitudes of thefuture labour force, it is difficult to assess whetherthere are sufficient jobs to absorb the future size ofthe labour force. Thus, knowledge of the magnitudesof the future labour force is essential to planningto reduce potential unemployment and its socialconsequences. %U http://aps.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/9