Media Release                                                                                         12 December 2017

QUARTERLY EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

The results of the Quarterly Employment Survey for the third quarter of 2017 released by Statistics South Africa today, show a decline of 31 000 jobs (or -0.3%) to 9 589 000  in the formal non-agricultural sector in the quarter ended in September 2017.  This is a loss of 83 000
(or -0.9%) jobs when compared to the same period last year (September 2016).

Quarterly employment declines were mainly driven by community services industry with 10 000 jobs (or -0.4%). Additional job losses were also observed in mining and quarrying industry with 9 000 jobs (or -1.9%), trade industry with 7 000 (or -0.3%), business services with 6 000 (or -0.3%), manufacturing with 5 000 (or -0.4%), and electricity industry which lost 1 000 jobs (or -1.6%).

However, increases in employment were observed in the construction industry as well as the transport industry with 4 000 and 3 000 jobs respectively.

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

Total earnings paid to employees increased by R20 billion (3.3%) to R606 billion in September 2017. However, this is R34.4 billion higher compared to the same period of last year (September 2016).

The increase in gross earnings was led by business services industry with R9.9 billion (or 6.8%) quarter-to-quarter. The quarterly increase was followed by community services industry with R4.8 billion (or 2.5%), electricity, gas and water supply industry with R2.2 billion, trade industry with R1.1 billion, manufacturing industry with R1.0 billion, mining and quarrying with R729 million and construction industry with R38 million.

The transport industry paid R223 million less gross earnings than the previous quarter.

There was a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2,2% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R19 189 in May 2017 to R19 608 in August 2017. On an annual basis, average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 8,7% from R18 035 in August 2016 to R19 608 in August 2017.

Issued by Statistics South Africa

For technical enquiries 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