IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Jobs in the formal non-agricultural sector decreased by 9 000 in the first quarter of 2021, bringing the total number of persons employed in the formal non-agricultural sector in South Africa to approximately 9,64 million. Year-on-year figures from the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q1:2021) survey, released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), show that formal sector jobs decreased by 552 000 in the first quarter

Total employment decreased by 9 000 or (-0,1%) quarter-on-quarter, from 9 653 000 in
December 2020 to 9 644 000 in March 2021. Jobs were shed in trade (-40 000 or -1,9%), business services (-19 000 or -0,9%), construction (-5 000 or -1,0%) and electricity (-1 000 or -1,7%).
The transport industry reported no quarterly change.
The quarterly decreases were offset by increases reported in the community services industry (47 000 or 1,7%), mining (5 000 or 1,1%) and manufacturing (4 000 or 0,4%).
The contraction in jobs between March 2020 and March 2021 was much bleaker, with total employment falling by 552 000 or (-5,4%).
Full-time employment followed a similar trend as total employment with a decrease of 63 000 or (-0,7%) quarter-on-quarter, from 8 629 000 in December 2020 to 8 566 000 in March 2021.These decreases were reported in the trade industry (-28 000 or -1,4%); community services (-22 000 or -0,9%), business services (-15 000 or -0,8%); construction (-4 000 or -0,9%); and electricity (-1 000 or -1,8%).
However, increases in full-time employment were observed in the mining industry (5 000 or 1,1%) and the manufacturing industry (2 000 or 0,2%) in the first quarter of 2021.
Part-time employment increased by 54 000 or (5,3%) quarter-on-quarter, from 1 024 000 in December 2020 to 1 078 000 in March 2021. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (69 000 or 16,1%) and manufacturing (2 000 or 2,8%).

The electricity and transport industries reported no change.
However, there were decreases in the following industries: trade (-12 000 or -5,6%), business services
(-4 000 or -1,8%) and construction (-1 000 or -1,5%).

The year on year comparison between part-time and full-time employment revealed different trends. Full-time employment decreased by 599 000 or (-6,5%) year-on-year between March 2020 and March 2021 whilst part-time employment increased by 47 000 or (4,6%) .

Total gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R26,8 billion or (-3,6%) from R742,1 billion in December 2020 to R715,3 billion in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing, community services, trade, transport, business services, construction and electricity. The mining industry reported a quarterly increase.

Year-on-year, total gross earnings decreased by R14,1 billion or (-1,9%) between March 2020 and March 2021.
Basic salary/wages paid to employees decreased by R4,1 billion or (-0,6%) from R651,2 billion in December 2020 to R647,2 billion in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services, manufacturing, construction, transport and electricity.
However, there were increases in the following industries: trade, mining and community services.
Year-on-year, basic salary/wages decreased by R19,6 billion or (-2,9%) between March 2020 and March 2021.

Bonus and overtime paid to employees decreased by R22,7 billion (-25,0%) from R90,9 billion in December 2020 to R68,1 billion in March 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services, trade, manufacturing, transport, construction, electricity and business services.
Year-on-year, bonus and overtime payments increased by R5,5 billion or (8,9%) between March 2020 and March 2021.
There was a quarter-on-quarter increase of R3,00 (or 0,0%) in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R23 119 in November 2020 to R23 122 in February 2021.
Year-on-year, average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased
by 3,2%.
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