Total employment increased by 16 000 or 0,2% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 197 000 in September 2019 to 10 213 000 in December 2019. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (39 000 or 1,7%), business services (12 000 or 0,5%) and community services (3 000 or 0,1%).The electricity industry remained unchanged. However there were decreases in the following industries: construction (-17 000 or -2,9%), mining and quarrying (-15 000 or -3,2%), manufacturing (-4 000 or -0,3%) and transport (-2 000 or -0,4%). Total employment increased by 18 000 or 0,2% year-on-year between December 2018 and December 2019.

Full-time employment decreased by 2 000 or 0,0% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 164 000 in September 2019 to 9 162 000 in December 2019. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: mining and quarrying (-15 000 or -3,2%), construction (-13 000 or -2,5%), manufacturing (-5 000 or -0,4%), transport (-2 000 or -0,4%) and electricity (-1 000 or -1,7%). However there were increases in the following industries: trade (29 000 or 1,4%), community services (3 000 or 0,1%), and business services (2 000 or 0,1%). Full-time employment decreased by 14 000 or -0,2% year-on-year between December 2018 and December 2019. 

Part-time employment increased by 18 000 or 1,7% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 033 000 in September 2019 to 1 051 000 in December 2019. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (10 000 or 4,3%), business services (10 000 or 4,4%), manufacturing (1 000 or 1,3%) and electricity (1 000 or 100%). The transport and community services industries remained unchanged. However the construction industry reported a quarterly decrease of 4 000 or -5,6%. Part-time employment increased by 32 000 or 3,1% year-on-year between December 2018 and December 2019.

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R52,3 billion or 7,2% from R724,1 billion in September 2019 to R776,4 billion in December 2019. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services (R12,3 billion or 6,5%), community services (R12 billion or 5%), trade (R9,4 billion or 9,2%), manufacturing (R8,1 billion or 11,3%), transport (R4,5 billion or 11,2%), construction (R3,2 billion or 9,7%), electricity (R1,7 billion or 20,6%), mining, and quarrying (R887 million or 2,4%). Year-on-year, total gross earnings increased by R37,9 billion or (5,1%).

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R9,5 billion (1,4%) from R663,3 billion in September 2019 to R672,7 billion in December 2019. Bonus and overtime paid to employees increased by R42,8 billion (70,4%) from R60,8 billion in September 2019 to R103,7 billion in December 2019.

Average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased 0,6% quarter-on-quarter and 4,5% year-on-year.