Employment in South Africa showed strong growth of 5,6% in March, with positive growth recorded across all sectors for the first time in two-and–a-half years, said JSE-listed Adcorp on Monday.

Adcorp publishes a monthly employment index.

The highest employment growth rates were found in transport at 18,3%, electricity at 13,6%, mining at 11,5%, agriculture at 11,8%, professional services at 10,8% and machine operator occupations at 10,4%.

Meanwhile, employment in the official sector grew 7,3%, while employment in the unofficial sector grew 2%. Temporary work grew by 3,7% during the month, while non-agency temporary work declined.

This was the first time since January 2006 that the formal sector drew workers out of informal employment.

Adcorp CEO Richard Pike cautioned against a “euphoric” reaction, pointing out that most of South Africa’s employment growth over the past decade had been of a temporary nature.

“This is in line with international trends and South Africans still need a shift in mindset around the notions of temporary and permanent employment.”

Pike believed that temporary work provided a “much needed” stop gap for people entering and exiting the permanent job market, such as youth, retired people, working mothers and unskilled and inexperienced job-seekers.