Key findings: P0277 - Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), December 2022

Total employment increased by 48 000 or 0,5% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 920 000 in September 2022 to 9 968 000 in December 2022. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (49 000 or 2,3%), business services (9 000 or 0,4%) and mining (2 000 or 0,4%). The transport and community services industries reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: construction (-10 000 or -1,9%), manufacturing (-1 000 or -0,1%) and electricity (-1 000 or -1,7%).

 

Total employment decreased by 94 000 or -0,9% year-on-year between December 2021 and December 2022.

 

Full-time employment increased by 6 000 or 0,1% quarter-on-quarter, from 8 865 000 in September 2022 to 8 871 000 in December 2022. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (26 000 or 1,4%), mining (2 000 or 0,4%), transport (1 000 or 0,3%) and business services (1 000 or 0,0). The manufacturing industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: construction (-16 000 or -3,5%), community services (-7 000 or -0,3%) and electricity (-1 000 or -1,8%).

 

Full-time employment decreased by 9 000 or -0,1% year-on-year between December 2021 and December 2022.

 

Part-time employment increased by 42 000 or 4,0% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 055 000 in September 2022 to 1 097 000 in December 2022. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (23 000 or 10,3%), business services (8 000 or 4,0%), community services (7 000 or 1,5%) and construction (6 000 or 8,8%). The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries:  transport (-1 000 or -5,9%) and manufacturing (-1 000 or -1,3%).

 

Part-time employment decreased by 85 000 or -7,2% year-on-year between December 2021 and December 2022.

 

Total gross earnings paid to employees increased by R67,8 billion or 8,5% from R798,7 billion in September 2022 to R866,6 billion in December 2022. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services, trade, manufacturing, business services, construction, transport, electricity and mining.

 

The year-on-year total gross earnings increased by R39,2 billion or 4,7% between December 2021 and December 2022.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R22,8 billion or 3,1% from R729,3 billion in September 2022 to R752,1 billion in December 2022. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services, trade, business services, manufacturing, mining, transport and electricity. However, the construction industry reported a quarterly decrease.

 

The year-on-year basic salary/wages increased by R31,9 billion or 4,4% between December 2021 and December 2022.

 

Bonus paid to employees increased by R44,2 billion or 94,8% from R46,6 billion in September 2022 to R90,8 billion in December 2022. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: manufacturing, community services, trade, business services, construction, transport and electricity. 

 

The year-on-year bonus payments increased by R6,1 billion or 7,2% between December 2021 and December 2022.

 

Overtime paid to employees increased by R0,9 billion or 3,7% from R22,8 billion in September 2022 to R23,6 billion in December 2022. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade, manufacturing, community services and transport. However, there were decreases in the following industries: business services, electricity and construction.

 

The year-on-year overtime payments increased by R1,2 billion or 5,4% between December 2021 and December 2022.

 

Average monthly earnings showed a quarter-on-quarter increase of 4,5%, from R24 916 in Aug 2022 to R26 032 in November 2022. Year-on-year, average monthly earnings increased by 9,2%.