IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The total income for the wholesale trade industry in 2015 was R1 650 875million. The largest contributor to the total income was 'wholesale trade in food, beverages and tobacco' (R285 219 million or 17,3%), followed by 'wholesale trade in machinery, equipment and supplies' (R263 587 million or 16,0%), 'wholesale trade in solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products' (R245 089 million or 14,8%) and 'wholesale trade in other household goods' (R235 010 million or 14,2%). The total income represents an increase of 12,4% per annum over the income reported in the corresponding survey of 2012 (R1 163 791 million).

Expenditure in the wholesale trade industry in 2015 amounted to R1 609 557 million. The expenditure consisted primarily of 'purchases' (R1 335 302 million or 83,0%).

The total number of persons employed in the wholesale trade industry as at the end of June 2015 was 490 037. 'Wholesale trade in machinery, equipment and supplies' employed the largest number of persons (101 126 or 20,6%), followed by 'wholesale trade in food, beverages and tobacco' (83 611 or 17,1%) and 'general and other wholesale trade' (72 422 or 14,8%). Formal employment increased from 433 452 in 2005 to 490 037 in 2015 (a gain of 56 585 jobs between 2005 and 2015). The highest growth in employment since 2005 was in 'wholesale trade in agricultural raw materials and livestock' (+17 710), 'wholesale trade in other household goods' (+14 386) and 'wholesale trade in machinery, equipment and supplies' (+13 848). The biggest loss in employment was in 'wholesale trade on a fee or contract basis' (-18 131 jobs). The proportion of males out of the total persons employed was 65,8% and that of females was 34,2%. The industry with the highest proportion of males employed was 'wholesale trade in metals and metal ores' (73,3%). The proportion of males employed in the wholesale trade industry improved from 63,5% in 2012 to 65,8% in 2015. The highest proportion of females was employed by 'wholesale trade in other intermediate products, waste and scrap' in 2012 at 71,4%. Whereas large enterprises (those with turnover equal to or greater than R192 million) contributed 67,0% of the total income of the wholesale trade industry in 2015, their contribution to employment was only 40,3%. Most (59,7%) of the employment in the industry was created by small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) while their contribution to income was 33,0%.