Key findings: P0277 - Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), December 2024
Total employment increased by 12 000 or 0,1% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 628 000 in September 2024 to 10 640 000 in December 2024. This was largely due to an increase in the following industries: trade (42 000 or 1,8%), business services (22 000 or 0,9%), transport (2 000 or 0,4%) and electricity (1 000 or 1,6%). However, there was a decrease in the following industries: community services (-26 000 or -0,9%), manufacturing (-13 000 or -1,0%), construction (-13 000 or -2,1%) and mining (-3 000 or -0,6%).
Total employment decreased by 91 000 or 0,8% year-on-year between December 2023 and December 2024.
Full-time employment increased by 10 000 or 0,1% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 477 000 in September 2024 to 9 487 000 in December 2024. This was largely due to an increase in the following industries: trade (24 000 or 1,1%), business services (21 000 or 0,9%), transport (3 000 or 0,7%) and electricity (1 000 or 1,6%). However, there was a decrease in the following industries: construction (-14 000 or -2,6%), community services (-12 000 or -0,5%), manufacturing (-10 000 or -0,8%) and mining (-3 000 or -0,6%).
Full-time employment decreased by 26 000 or 0,3% year-on-year between December 2023 and December 2024.
Part-time employment increased by 2 000 or 0,2% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 151 000 in September 2024 to 1 153 000 in December 2024. This was due to an increase in the following industries: trade (18 000 or 7,4%), construction (1 000 or 1,4%) and business services (1 000 or 0,4%). However, there was a decrease in the following industries: community services (-14 000 or -2,8%), manufacturing (-3 000 or -3,4%) and transport (-1 000 or -5,9%). Electricity industry showed no change in part-time employment.
Part-time employment decreased by 65 000 or 5,3% year-on-year between December 2023 and December 2024.
Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R59,1 billion or 6,1% quarter-on-quarter, from R969,4 billion in September 2024 to R1,03 trillion in December 2024. This was largely due to an increase in the following industries: trade, manufacturing, community services, business services, construction, transport and electricity. However, there was a decrease in the mining industry.
Year-on-year, gross earnings increased by R35,5 billion or 3,6% between December 2023 and December 2024.
Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R9,5 billion or 1,1% quarter-on-quarter, from R880,2 billion in September 2024 to R889,7 billion in December 2024. This was largely due to an increase in the following industries: community services, trade, manufacturing, business services, transport, construction and electricity. However, there was a decrease in the mining industry.
Year-on-year, basic salary/wages increased by R34,1 billion or 4,0% between December 2023 and December 2024.
Bonus paid to employees increased by R51,8 billion or 85,4% quarter-on-quarter, from R60,7 billion in September 2024 to R112,5 billion in December 2024. This was largely due to an increase in the following industries: manufacturing, trade, community services, business services, construction, transport and electricity.
Year-on-year, bonus payments increased by R3,5 billion or 3,2% between December 2023 and December 2024.
Overtime paid to employees decreased by R2,2 billion or 7,7% quarter-on-quarter, from R28,6 billion in September 2024 to R26,4 billion in December 2024. This was largely due to a decrease in the following industries: business services, community services, transport and electricity. However, there was an increase in the following industries: construction, trade and manufacturing.
Year-on-year, overtime payments decreased by R2,0 billion or 7,1% between December 2023 and December 2024.
Average monthly earnings paid to employees decreased by -0,2% from 28 274 in August 2024 to 28 231 in November 2024. Year-on-year, average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 5,3% between November 2023 and November 2024.