Key findings: P0277 - Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), September 2023

Total employment increased by 31 000 or 0,3% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 145 000 in June 2023 to 10 176 000 in September 2023, this is according to the report released by Statistics South Africa today. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (42 000 or 1,4%), trade (4 000 or 0,2%), transport (2 000 or 0,5%) and mining (2 000 or 0,4%). The electricity sector reported no change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: business services (-7 000 or -0,3%), manufacturing (-7 000 or -0,6%), and construction (-5 000 or -1,0%).

 

The report shows that total employment increased by 256 000 or 2,6% year-on-year between September 2022 and September 2023.

 

Full-time employment decreased by 3 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 8 792 000 in June 2023 to 8 789 000 in September 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services (-17 000 or -0,8%), manufacturing (-4 000 or -0,4%) and construction (-3 000 or -0,7%). The transport industry reported no change. However, there were increases in the following industries: community services (16 000 or 0,7%), mining (2 000 or 0,4%), trade (2 000 or 0,1%) and electricity (1 000 or 1,8%). 

 

Full-time employment decreased by 76 000 or -0,9% year-on-year between September 2022 and September 2023.

 

Part-time employment increased by 34 000 or 2,5% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 353 000 in June 2023 to 1 387 000 in September 2023. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (26 000 or 3,6%), business services (10 000 or 4,1%), transport (2 000 or 13,3%) and trade (2 000 or 0,9%). However, there were decreases in the following industries: manufacturing (-3 000 or -3,9%), construction (-2 000 or -2,9%) and electricity (-1 000 or -50,0%).

 

Part-time employment increased by 332 000 or 31,5% year-on-year between September 2022 and September 2023.

 

Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R16,7 billion or 2,0% from R833,6 billion in June 2023 to R850,2 billion in September 2023. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services, community services, mining, manufacturing, electricity and construction. However, there were decreases in the following industries: transport and trade.

 

The year-on-year gross earnings increased by R51,6 billion or 6,5% between September 2022 and September 2023.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R15,2 billion or 2,0% from R759 billion in June 2023 to R774,3 billion in September 2023. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services, business services, mining, manufacturing, transport, trade, construction and electricity.

 

The year-on-year basic salary/wages increased by R44,9 billion or 6,2% between September 2022 and September 2023.

 

Bonus paid to employees increased by R1,8 billion or 3,7% from R49,2 billion in June 2023 to R51 billion in September 2023. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services and community services. However, there were decreases in the following industries: transport, trade, manufacturing, construction and electricity.

 

The year-on-year bonus payments increased by R4,4 billion or 9,5% between September 2022 and September 2023.

 

Overtime paid to employees decreased by R408 million or -1,6% from R25,4 billion in June 2023 to R25 billion in September 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade, manufacturing, community services, electricity and transport. However, business services and construction reported a quarterly increase.

 

The year-on-year overtime payments increased by R2,2 billion or 9,7% between September 2022 and September 2023.

 

Average monthly earnings showed a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0,9%, from R25 866 in May 2023 to R26 086 in August 2023. Year-on-year, average monthly earnings increased by 4,7%.