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Trends on the hours worked of the employed, 1997 - 2011

Author

Listed:
  • Derek Yu

    (Department of Economics, University of the Western Cape)

  • Adél Bosch

    (Research Department, South African Reserve Bank)

Abstract

This paper analyses trends in hours worked from South African household survey data for the period 1997 – 2011. The purpose of the paper is fourfold. First, the paper provides an overview on the trends in hours worked of formal sector employees, by various demographic and work characteristics. Second, the paper aims to establish how mean hours worked corresponded to the business cycle and third, the reliability of the Statistics South Africa hours worked data is assessed by comparing it with the data on hours working in the manufacturing sector by the Bureau of Economic Research (BER). Last, the newly derived hours worked variables are evaluated in terms of their usefulness as leading indicators, and how they can be used in productivity studies in the South African macroeconomic environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Derek Yu & Adél Bosch, 2012. "Trends on the hours worked of the employed, 1997 - 2011," Working Papers 15/2012, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:sza:wpaper:wpapers167
    as

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    File URL: https://www.ekon.sun.ac.za/wpapers/2012/wp152012/wp-15-2012.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Glosser, Stuart M. & Golden, Lonnie, 1997. "Average work hours as a leading economic variable in US manufacturing industries," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 175-195, June.
    2. Layton, Allan P & Moore, Geoffrey H, 1989. "Leading Indicators for the Service Sector," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 7(3), pages 379-386, July.
    3. Galí, Jordi & Rabanal, Pau, 2004. "Technology Shocks and Aggregate Fluctuations: How Well Does the RBC Model Fit Post-War US Data?," CEPR Discussion Papers 4522, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Geoffrey H. Moore, 1983. "Business Cycles, Inflation, and Forecasting, 2nd edition," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number moor83-1.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Work hours; Business cycles; Formal sector employees; Manufacturing industry; South Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • J00 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - General

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