Media Release                                                                                         28 September 2017

The results of the Quarterly Employment Survey for the second quarter of 2017 released by Statistics South Africa today, show a decline of 34 000 jobs (or -0.4%) to 9 617 000  in the formal non-agricultural sector in the quarter ended in June 2017.  This is a gain of 13 000 (or 0.1%) jobs when compared to the same period last year (June 2016).

Quarterly employment declines were mainly driven by manufacturing industry with 13 000 jobs (or -1.1%), construction industry with 11 000 jobs (or -1.8%), and community services which lost 10 000 jobs (or -0.4%). Additional job losses were also observed in transport and communications services with 5 000 jobs (or -1.1%) and business services industry with 1 000 jobs (or -0,0%).

However there were increases in employment observed in the trade and mining industry with 3 000 jobs respectively.

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

Total earnings paid to employees declined by R2 billion (-0.4%) to R586 billion in June 2017. However, this is R33 billion higher compared to the same period of last year (June 2016).

The decrease in gross earnings was led by business services industry with R13,6 billion (or -8.6%) quarter-to-quarter.

However there was a quarter-to-quarter increase in gross earnings from the community services industry with R7 billion (or 0.4%);  followed by transport and communications industry with R2 billion (or 6.1%), trade industry with R1 billion (or 1.1%), construction industry with R0,5 billion (or 1.7%), mining and quarrying with R182 million (or 0.6%), manufacturing industry with R144 million (or 0.2%), and electricity industry with R44 million (or 0.6%).

There was a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2,7% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R18 662 in February 2017 to R19 170 in May 2017. On an annual basis, average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 6,9% from R17 938 in May 2016 to R19 170 in May 2017.

Issued by Statistics South Africa

For technical enquires contact:

Ms Gwen Lehloenya

Acting Deputy Director-General: Population and Social Statistics

Tel: 012 310 8333

Email: GwenL@statssa.gov.za

Mr Matlapane Masupye

Acting Chief Director: Labour Statistics

Tel:  012 337 6427

Email: Matlapanem@statssa.gov.za

For media enquiries contact:

Lesedi Dibakwane

Director: Media and Public Relations

(012) 310 8578

082 805 7088

Lesedid@statssa.gov.za