Employment

Quarterly employment statistics show that  employment increased by 43 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 8 949 000 in September 2015 to
8 992 000 in December 2015. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (42 000 or 2,3%); business services (16 000 or 0,8%) and community services (13 000 or 0,5%).

There were decreases reported by the following industries: mining and quarrying (-14 000 or -2,9%); construction (-8 000 or -1,7%);  manufacturing (-4 000 or -0,4%); and transport (-2 000 or -0,5%).

Electricity industry remained unchanged.
Employment increased by 6 000 or 0,1% year-on-year between December 2014 and December 2015. Most increases were reported by the following industries: trade (36 000 or 1,9%); business services (22 000 or 1,1%) and community services (7 000 or 0,3%).

The following industries reported annual decreases:  mining and quarrying (-29 000 or -5,9%); construction
(-19 000 or -3,9%); transport (-6 000 or -1,4%) and manufacturing (-5 000 or -0,4%).

Electricity industry remained unchanged.

Gross earnings

Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R31 147 million (6,3%) from R495 579 million in September 2015 to R526 726 million in December 2015. The increase was mainly due to increases in the electricity; construction; manufacturing; trade; business services; transport; community services and mining and quarrying industries.

Year-on-year, gross earnings increased by R29 446 million (5.9%)

Average monthly earnings

Average monthly earnings shows a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0,7% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R17 392 in August 2015 to R17 517 in November 2015.

On an annual basis, average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 6,7% from R16 424 in November 2014 to R17 517 in November 2015.