IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Employment and earnings for the quarter ending September 2018

Employment decreased by 16 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 9 749 000 in June 2018 to 9 733 000 in September 2018. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing (-7 000 or -0,6%), construction (-5 000 or -0,8%), mining and quarrying (-2 000 or -0,4%), trade (-2 000 or -0,1%), transport (-1 000 or -0,2%) and community services (-1 000 or 0,0%).

The electricity industry remained unchanged.

However there was an increase in the business services industry (2 000 or 0,1%).

Employment increased by 17 000 or 0,2% year-on-year between September 2017 and September 2018. These increases were reported by: trade (25 000 or 1,2%), community services (22 000 or 0,8%) and business services (21 000 or 0,9%).

The following industries reported annual decreases: construction (-22 000 or -3,5%), manufacturing (-16 000 or -1,3%), transport (-9 000 or -1,9%), mining and quarrying (-3 000 or -0,7%), and electricity industry (-1 000 or -1,6%).

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R26 110 million (4,2%) from R626 501 million in June 2018 to R652 611 million in September 2018. The increase was mainly due to the increases in community services, business services, mining and quarrying, trade, manufacturing, electricity and transport industries.

There was a decrease reported by the construction industry.

Year-on-year, gross earnings increased by R34 764 million or (5,6%).

Average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased from R20 163 in May 2018 to R20 860 in August 2018.