Key findings: P0277 - Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), March 2015

Key findings on employment and earnings for the quarter ended March 2015

The number of employees in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy decreased from an estimated 8 986 000 employees in December 2014 to an estimated 8 942 000 employees in March 2015.

The March 2015 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that an estimated 8 942 000 persons were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy. This reflected a quarterly decrease of 44 000 employees (-0,5%) between December 2014 and March 2015 and an annual decrease of 43 000 employees (-0,5%) between March 2014 and March 2015.

Gross earnings decreased between the quarters ended December 2014 and March 2015.

Gross earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector during the quarter ended March 2015 amounted to R475 billion. This reflected a quarterly decrease of R22 billion (-4,4%) compared with the quarter ended December 2014 and an annual increase of R25 billion (+5,6%) compared with the quarter ended March 2014.

Key estimates of average monthly earnings

Average monthly earnings, including bonuses and overtime payments, paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by 0,2% between November 2014 and February 2015.

The March 2015 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that an estimated monthly average of R16 461 was paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector during February 2015. This reflected a quarterly increase of 0,2% between November 2014 and February 2015 and an annual increase of 7,8% between February 2014 and February 2015.