BDLive reports that a 1.2% GDP contraction in the first quarter of 2016 suggests that the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), which show formal-sector employment, could disappoint when Statistics SA releases the data on Tuesday.  

The formal sector added 43,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2015.  The QES may show that short-term jobs were created by the public sector and few to no jobs created by the private sector, according to Macquarie Securities economist Elna Moolman.  She added:  "We may see some job creation in the government but it will likely be related to pre-election and Expanded Public Works Programme employment.  We are concerned about downside risks to private-sector employment.  We won’t see much new in the QES regarding private-sector employment."

• This report by Ntsakisi Maswanganyi is part of a longer report on the economic week ahead at BDLive

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