IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Employment and earnings for the quarter ending September 2017

Employment decreased by 31 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 9 620 000 in June 2017 to
9 589 000 in September 2017. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services (10 000 or -0,4%), manufacturing (5 000 or -0,4%), mining (9 000 or -1,9%), electricity (1 000 or -1,6%), trade (7 000 or -0,3%) and business services (6 000 or -0,3%).

However there were increases in the following industries: construction (4 000 or 0,7%) and transport (3 000 or 0,7%).

Employment decreased by 83 000 or -0,9% year-on-year between September 2016 and September 2017.

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

gross earnings paid to employees increased by R19 519 million (3,3%) from R586 588 million in June 2017 to R606 107 million in September 2017. The increase was mainly due to increases in business services, community services, construction; trade; mining, manufacturing and electricity industries.

However there was a decrease in gross earnings reported by the transport industry.

Year-on-year, gross earnings increased by R34 421 million (6,0%).

The survey showed a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2,2% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R19 189 in May 2017 to R19 608 in August 2017. Year-on-year, average monthly earnings increased by 8,7%.