Key findings: P0277 - Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), March 2024

Total employment decreased by 67 000 or -0,6% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 731 000 in December 2023 to 10 664 000 in March 2024. This was due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-57 000 or - 2,4%), community services (-18 000 or -0,6%), business services (-4 000 or -0,2%), and mining (-3 000 or -0,6%). The electricity industry showed no change. However, there were increases in the following industries: manufacturing (12 000 or 0,9%), transport (2 000 or 0,4%) and construction (1 000 or 0,2%).

Total employment decreased by 74 000 or -0,7% year-on-year between March 2023 and March 2024.

Full-time employment decreased by 29 000 or -0,3% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 513 000 in December 2023 to 9 484 000 in March 2024. This was due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-35 000 or -1,7%), community services (-13 000 or -0,5%), and mining (-3 000 or -0,6%). The electricity and transport industries showed no changes. However, there were increases in the following industries: manufacturing (18 000 or 1,5%), business services (3 000 or 0,1%), and construction (1 000 or 0,2%).

Full-time employment decreased by 16 000 or -0,2% year-on-year between March 2023 and March 2024.

Part-time employment decreased by 38 000 or -3,1% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 218 000 in December 2023 to 1 180 000 in March 2024. This was due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-22 000 or -8,3%), business services (-7 000 or -3,0%), manufacturing (-6 000 or -6,7%), and community services (-5 000 or -0,9%). The electricity and construction industries showed no changes. However, transport industry reported an increase of 2 000 or 11,1%.

Part-time employment decreased by 58 000 or -4,7% year-on-year between March 2023 and March 2024.

Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R35,1 billion or -3,5% from R993 billion in December 2023 to R957,9 billion in March 2024. This was due to decreases in the following industries: trade, community services, manufacturing, construction, transport, electricity and mining. However, business services reported an increase of R9,3 billion.

Year-on-year, gross earnings increased by R43,5 billion or 4,8%% between March 2023 and March 2024.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees decreased by R6,7 billion or -0,8% from R855,6 billion in December 2023 to R848,9 billion in March 2024. This was due to decreases in the following industries: trade, manufacturing, construction, mining and business services. However, there were increases reported by the following industries: transport, electricity, and community services.

Year-on-year, basic salary/wages increased by R40,1 billion or 5,0% between March 2023 and March 2024.

 

Bonus paid to employees decreased by R27,6 billion or -25% from R109 billion in December 2023 to R81,4 billion in March 2023. This was due to decreases in the following industries: community services, trade, manufacturing, construction, transport and electricity. However, the business services reported an increase of R9,9 billion.

 

Year-on-year, bonus payments increased by R0,4 billion or 0,5% between March 2023 and March 2024.

 

Overtime paid to employees decreased by R0,8 billion or -2,7% from R28,4 billion in December 2023 to R27,6 billion in March 2024. This was due to decreases in the following industries: business services, manufacturing, construction and transport. However, there were increases reported by the following industries: electricity, trade, and community services.

 

Year-on-year overtime payments increased by R3 billion or 12,0% between March 2023 and March 2024.

 

Average monthly earnings paid to employees decreased by 0,1% from R26 817 in November 2023 to R26 793 in February 2024.  Year-on-year, average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 4,7% between February 2023 and February 2024.