Total employment decreased by 9 000 or (-0,1%) quarter-on-quarter, from 9 653 000 in December 2020 to 9 644 000 in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-40 000 or -1,9%), business services (-19 000 or -0,9%), construction (-5 000 or -1,0%) and electricity (-1 000 or -1,7%). The transport industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were increases in the following industries: community services (47 000 or 1,7%), mining (5 000 or 1,1%) and manufacturing (4 000 or 0,4%).

Total employment decreased by 552 000 or (-5,4%) year-on-year between March 2020 and March 2021.

Full-time employment decreased by 63 000 or (-0,7%) quarter-on-quarter, from 8 629 000 in December 2020 to 8 566 000 in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-28 000 or -1,4%), community services (-22 000 or -0,9%), business services (-15 000 or -0,8%), construction (-4 000 or -0,9%), and electricity (-1 000 or -1,8%). The transport industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were increases in the following industries: mining (5 000 or 1,1%) and manufacturing (2 000 or 0,2%).

Full-time employment decreased by 599 000 or (-6,5%) year-on-year between March 2020 and March 2021.

Part-time employment increased by 54 000 or (5,3%) quarter-on-quarter, from 1 024 000 in December 2020 to 1 078 000 in March 2021. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (69 000 or 16,1%) and manufacturing (2 000 or 2,8%). The electricity and transport industries reported no change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: trade (-12 000 or -5,6%), business services (-4 000 or -1,8%) and construction (-1 000 or -1,5%).

Part-time employment increased by 47 000 or (4,6%) year-on-year between March 2020 and March 2021.

Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R26,8 billion or (-3,6%) from R742,1 billion in December 2020 to R715,3 billion in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing, community services, trade, transport, business services, construction and electricity. However, the mining industry reported a quarterly increase.

Year-on-year, total gross earnings decreased by R14,1 billion or (-1,9%) between March 2020 and March 2021.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees decreased by R4,1 billion or (-0,6%) from R651,2 billion in December 2020 to R647,2 billion in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services, manufacturing, construction, transport and electricity. However, there were increases in the following industry: trade, mining and community services.

Year-on-year, basic salary/wages decreased by R19,6 billion or (-2,9%) between March 2020 and March 2021.

Bonus and overtime paid to employees decreased by R22,7 billion (-25,0%) from R90,9 billion in December 2020 to R68,1 billion in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services, trade, manufacturing, transport, construction, electricity and business services.

Year-on-year, bonus and overtime payments increased by R5,5 billion or (8,9%) between March 2020 and March 2021.