The number of unemployed people in South Africa increased slightly in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the last quarter of 2014‚ Statistics SA data showed. The unemployment rate increased to 26.4% in the first quarter of 2015 from 24.3% in the fourth quarter of last year‚ Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) showed.The QLFS is a household-based sample survey conducted by Stats SA. It collects data on the labour market activities of individuals aged 15 years and older who live in SA. However‚ the report only covers labour market activities of persons aged 15-64.New masterStats SA said the estimates presented in the survey were based on the new master sample‚ while the previous quarters were based on the old master sample. "Redesigning of a master sample is a process routinely undertaken by statistical agencies following a population census."The new master sample should improve the level of precision in the estimates produced. The quarter-to-quarter and year on-year changes are influenced by the change (in) the updated sample. Stats SA will monitor estimates produced by the new master sample over the next quarters until they have stabilised‚" the agency said.The first-quarter results showed that the working age population was 35.8-million‚ with 15.5-million employed‚ 5.5-million unemployed and 14.8-million not economically active.The formal sector accounted for the largest share of employment at 69.8%‚ while the agriculture accounted for the lowest share (5.8%).About 16% of the economically inactive population were accounted for by the discouraged‚ while more than 80% were due to other reasons (ie student‚ home-maker‚ etc).Bad businessSouth Africa’s composite leading business economic indicator fell by 1.6% year on year in March 2015‚ after a 2.3% decline in February.The Reserve Bank released the data on Tuesday.The country’s seasonally adjusted leading economic indicator provides a guideline for economic activity and growth for at least six months ahead.The indicator decreased marginally by 0.2% month on month in March 2015. Five of the 10 component time series that were available for March 2015 decreased‚ while five increased.The largest negative contribution to the movement in the composite leading indicator in March came from a decrease in the number of residential building plans passed and a decrease in the US dollar based export commodity price index.Help wantedThe largest positive contributions in March resulted from an acceleration in the 12-month percentage change in job advertisement space‚ followed by a widening in the interest rate spread.The composite coincident business cycle indicator increased by 0.6% month on month in February. The composite lagging business cycle indicator increased by 0.8% month on month in February.The Bank uses the leading‚ coincident and lagging composite business cycle indices to indicate the direction economic activity is likely to take in the short term.-RDM News Wire..