Key findings: P0277.1 - Quarterly Employment Statistics, December 2005

Employment in the formal non-agricultural business sector increased between the quarters ended September 2005 and December 2005.

The December 2005 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that the number of people employed in the formal non-agricultural business sector of the South African economy increased by about 90 000 persons or 1,3% from September 2005 (an estimated 7 165 000 employees) to December 2005 (an estimated 7 255 000 employees).

Gross earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural business sector increased between the quarters ended September 2005 and December 2005.

According to the December 2005 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey gross earnings paid to employees during the quarter ended December 2005 (October 2005 to December 2005) amounted to R170 732 million. This represents a quarterly increase of R14 412 million or 9,2% compared with the quarter ended September 2005.

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

According to the December 2005 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey an estimated 7 255 000 number of people were employed in the formal non-agricultural business sector of the South African economy. This reflected an annual increase of about 158 000 persons or 2,2% compared with December 2004 (an estimated 7 097 000 employees).

Gross earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural business sector increased between the quarters ended December 2004 and December 2005.

The gross earnings paid to employees during the quarter ended December 2005 (October 2005 to December 2005) amounted to R170 732 million. This reflects an annual increase of R10 993 million or 6,9% compared with December 2004 (October 2004 to December 2004).