Employment increased by 87 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 10 064 000 in September 2018 to 10 151 000 in December 2018. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services (53 000 or 2,3%), trade (49 000 or 2,2%), community services (9 000 or 0,3%) and transport industry (5 000 or 1,0%).

However there were decreases in the construction (-18 000 or -2,8%), mining and quarrying (-7 000 or -1,5%), manufacturing (-3 000 or -0,2%) and electricity industry (-1 000 or -1,6%).

Employment increased by 158 000 or 1,6% year-on-year between December 2017 and December 2018. These increases were reported by: business services (77 000 or 3,4%), trade (55 000 or 2,5%), community services

(32 000 or 1,2%) , transport (7 000 or 1,5%) and manufacturing industry (5 000 or 0,4%).

The following industries reported annual decreases: construction (-9 000 or -1,4%), mining and quarrying (-8 000 or -1,8%) and electricity industry (-1 000 or -1,6%).

Full-time employment increased by 50 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 9 036 000 in September 2018 to 9 086 000 in December 2018. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services (55 000 or 2,7%), trade (24 000 or 1,2%) and transport industry (3 000 or 0,6%).

However there were decreases in the construction (-20 000 or -3,7%), mining and quarrying (-7 000 or -1,5%), manufacturing (-3 000 or -0,3%), electricity (-1 000 or -1,6%) and community services (-1 000 or 0,0%).

Employment increased by 134 000 or 1,5% year-on-year between December 2017 and December 2018. These increases were reported by: business services (88 000 or 4,3%), trade (45 000 or 2,3%), community services

(17 000 or 0,7%), manufacturing industry (5 000 or 0,4%) and transport industry (5 000 or 1,1%).

Part-time employment increased by 37 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 1 028 000 in September 2018 to 1 065 000 in December 2018. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade

(25 000 or 11,9%) , community services (10 000 or 2,7%), construction (2 000 or 2,1%) and transport industry (2 000 or 11,1%).

The manufacturing and electricity industries remained unchanged.

However there was a decrease in the business services industry (-2 000 or -0,8%).

Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R39 933 million (5,8%) from R685 242 million in September 2018 to R725 175 million in December 2018. The increase was mainly due to the increases in trade, manufacturing, business services, community services, construction, transport, electricity and mining and quarrying industries.

Year-on-year, total gross earnings increased by R46 603 million or (6,9%).

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R5 018 million (0,8%) from R625 246 million in September 2018 to R630 264 million in December 2018. The increase was mainly due to the increases in business services, trade, manufacturing, mining and quarrying, transport and electricity industries.

There was a decrease reported by the community services and construction industries.

Bonus and overtime paid to employees increased by R34 915 million (58,2%) from R59 996 million in September 2018 to R94 911 million in December 2018. The increase was mainly due to the increases in trade, community services, manufacturing, construction, business services, transport and electricity industries.

Year-on-year, bonus and overtime increased by R10 177 million or (12,0%).

Average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector remained unchanged quarter to quarter, however annually it increased by 4,9%