IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings for the quarters ended December 2004 and March 2005

Employment in the formal non-agricultural business sector decreased between the quarters ended December 2004 and March 2005.

The March 2005 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that the number of persons employed in the formal non-agricultural business sector of the South African economy decreased by about 136 000 persons or -1,9% from December 2004 (an estimated 7 075 000 employees) to March 2005 (an estimated 6 939 000 employees).

According to the March 2005 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey gross earnings paid to employees during the quarter ended March 2005 (January 2005 to March 2005) amounted to R146 004 million. This represents a quarterly decrease of R13 386 million or -8,4% compared with the quarter ended December 2004.