Total employment increased by 76 000 or (0,8%) quarter-on-quarter, from 9 564 000 in September 2020 to 9 640 000 in December 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (54 000 or 2,6%), community services (51 000 or 1,9%) and business services (4 000 or 0,2%). The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: construction (-18 000 or -3,5%), manufacturing (-13 000 or -1,2%), transport (-1 000 or -0,2%) and mining (-1 000 or -0,2%).

Total employment decreased by 594 000 or (-5,8%) year-on-year between December 2019 and December 2020.

Full-time employment decreased by 11 000 or (-0,1%) quarter-on-quarter, from 8 621 000 in September 2020 to 8 610 000 in December 2020. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: construction (-17 000 or -3,8%), manufacturing (-15 000 or -1,4%), business services (-14 000 or -0,7%), transport (-3 000 or -0,7%), mining and quarrying (-1 000 or -0,2%). The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were increases in the following industries: trade (28 000 or 1,5%) and community services (11 000 or 0,5%).

Full-time employment decreased by 565 000 or (-6,2%) year-on-year between December 2019 and December 2020.

Part-time employment increased by 87 000 or (9,2%) quarter-on-quarter, from 943 000 in September 2020 to 1 030 000 in December 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (40 000 or 10,3%), trade (26 000 or 13,5%), business services (18 000 or 8,7%), manufacturing (2 000 or 2,8%) and transport (2 000 or 11,1%). The electricity industry reported no change. However, the construction industry reported a quarterly decrease of 1000 or -1,5%.

Part-time employment decreased by 29 000 or (-2,7%) year-on-year between December 2019 and December 2020. Total gross earnings paid to employees increased by R60,3 billion or (8,9%) from R680,6 billion in September 2020 to R740,9 billion in December 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services, trade, community services, manufacturing, transport, construction, electricity, mining and quarrying.

Year-on-year, total gross earnings decreased by R36,1 billion or (-4,6%) between December 2019 and December 2020.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R18,6 billion or (3,0%) from R631,8 billion in September 2020 to R650,4 billion in December 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services, business services, trade, manufacturing, construction, transport, mining and electricity.

Year-on-year, basic salary/wages decreased by R22,9 billion or (-3,4%) between December 2019 and December 2020.

Bonus and overtime paid to employees increased by R41,7 billion (85,4%) from R48,8 billion in September 2020 to R90,5 billion in December 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services, trade, manufacturing, community services, transport, construction and electricity.

Year-on-year, bonus and overtime payments decreased by R13,2 billion or (-12,7%) between December 2019 and December 2020.

Quarter-on-quarter, an increase of 2,4% in average monthly earnings was paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R22 588 in August 2020 to R23 133 in November 2020. Year-on-year, average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by 3,1%.