IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The number of employees in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy decreased from an estimated 8 945 000 employees in March 2015 to an estimated 8 944 000 employees in June 2015.

The June 2015 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that an estimated 8 944 000 persons were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy. This reflected a quarterly decrease of 1 000 employees between March 2015 and June 2015 and an annual decrease of 161 000 employees (-1,8%) between June 2014 and June 2015.

The quarterly decrease was mainly due to decreases in employment reported by manufacturing industry (-7 000 or -0,6%); transport industry (-4 000 or -0,9%); business services industry (-3 000 or -0,2%); and construction industry (-2 000 or -0,4%).

There were increases reported by trade industry (8 000 or 0,4%); and community services industry (7 000 or 0,3%)

Mining and quarrying industry and electricity industry remained unchanged.

 
Gross earnings increased between the quarters ended March 2015 and June 2015.

Gross earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector during the quarter ended June 2015 amounted to R479,9 billion. This reflected a quarterly increase of R3,8 billion (+0,8%) compared with the quarter ended March 2015 and an annual increase of R32,7 billion (+7,3%) compared with the quarter ended June 2014.

The increase in gross earnings during the second quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2015 was mainly due to R5,3 billion (+3,5%) in the community, social and personal services industry; R1,4 billion (+4,8%) in the transport industry; R979 million (+1,5%) in the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motor cycles and personal and household goods, hotels and restaurants industry; R606 million (+3,2%) in the construction industry; R411 million (+0,8%) in the manufacturing industry; and R163 million (+0,6%) in the mining and quarrying industry; and R44 million (+0,7%) in the electricity, gas and water supply industry.

There was a decrease of R5,2 billion (-4,2%) in the financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services industry.

Average monthly earnings, including bonuses and overtime payments, paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by 1,8% between February 2015 and May 2015.

The June 2015 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that an estimated monthly average of
R16 796 was paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector during May 2015. This reflected a quarterly increase of 1,8% between February 2015 and May 2015 and an annual increase of 6,6% between May 2014 and May 2015.

The increase in average monthly earnings including bonuses and overtime paid to employees during May 2015 compared with February 2015 was due to the manufacturing industry (+3,0%); the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motor cycles and personal and household goods, hotels and restaurants industry (+2,9%); the financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services industry (+1,6%); the construction industry (+1,6%); the mining and quarrying industry (+1,5%); the transport, storage and communication industry (+1,3%); the community, social and personal services industry (+1,3%); and the electricity, gas and water supply industry (+0,3%).