Key findings: P0277 - Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), June 2017

Employment for the quarter ending June 2017

Employment decreased by 34 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 9 651 000 in March 2017 to
9 617 000 in June 2017. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing (13 000 or
-1,1%), construction (11 000 or -1,8%), community services (10 000 or -0,4%), transport (5 000 or -1,1%) and business services (1 000 or -0,05%).

The electricity industry remained unchanged.

However there were increases in the following industries: mining (3 000 or 0,6%) and trade (3 000 or 0,1%).
Employment increased by 13 000 or 0,1% year-on-year between June 2016 and June 2017.

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R2 328 million (-0,4%) from R587 785 million in March 2017 to R585 457 million in June 2017. The decrease was mainly due to decreases in business services industries.

There was an increase in gross earnings reported by transport, electricity; mining; construction; manufacturing, trade and community services industries.
Year-on-year, gross earnings increased by R33 107 million (6,0%)

The survey showed a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2,7% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R18 662 in February 2017 to R19 170 in May 2017. Year-on-year, average monthly earnings increased by 6,9%.