Jobs in the formal non-agricultural sector decreased by 86 000 in the second quarter of 2021, bringing the total number of persons employed in the formal non-agricultural sector in South Africa to approximately 9,57 million. According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q2:2021) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), formal sector jobs increased by 60 000 year-on-year in the second quarter of 2021 (June 2020 to June 2021).

Total employment decreased by 86 000 or (-0,9%) quarter-on-quarter, from 9 652 000 in March 2021 to

9 566 000 in June 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services (65 000 or -2,3%), manufacturing (-15 000 or -1,4%), construction (-7 000 or -1,4%), electricity (-1 000 or -1,7%) and business services (-1 000 or -0,0%). The trade industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were increases in the following industries: mining (2 000 or 0,4%) and transport (1 000 or 0,2%).

Full-time employment decreased by 27 000 or (-0,3%) quarter-on-quarter, from 8 602 000 in March 2021 to 8 575 000 in June 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services (-17 000 or -0,9%), manufacturing (-16 000 or -1,5%), construction (-11 000 or -2,6%), trade (-5 000 or -0,3%), electricity (-1 000 or -1,8%) and transport (-1 000 or -0,2%). However, there were increases in the following industries: community services (22 000 or 1,0%) and mining (2 000 or 0,4%).

Full-time employment decreased by 17 000 or (-0,2%) year-on-year between June 2020 and June 2021.

Part-time employment decreased by 59 000 or (-5,6%) quarter-on-quarter, from 1 050 000 in March 2021 to 991 000 in June 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the community services industry (-87 000 or -17,6%). The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were increases in the following industries: business services (16 000 or 7,8%), trade (5 000 or 2,5%), construction (4 000 or 6,7%), transport (2 000 or 11,1%) and manufacturing (1 000 or 1,4%).

Part-time employment increased by 77 000 or (8,4%) year-on-year between June 2020 and June 2021.

Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R0,1 billion or (-0,0%) from R715,2 billion in March 2021 to R715,1 billion in June 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services and mining. However, there were increases in the following industries: transport, trade,
construction, manufacturing, community services and electricity.

Year-on-year, gross earnings increased by R70,4 billion or (10,9%) between June 2020 and June 2021.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R7,3 billion or (1,1%) from R646,7 billion in March 2021 to R653,9 billion in June 2021. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services, trade, manufacturing, transport, construction and electricity. However, there were decreases in the mining and community services industries.

Year-on-year, basic salary/wages increased by R55,2 billion or (9,2%) between June 2020 and June 2021.

Bonus and overtime paid to employees decreased by R7,4 billion or (-10,8%) from R68,5 billion in March 2021 to R61,2 billion in June 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services, manufacturing and trade. However, there were increases in the following industries: transport, community services, electricity and construction.

Year-on-year, bonus and overtime payments increased by R15,1 billion or (32,9%) between June 2020 and June 2021.

There was a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1,7% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R23 127 in February 2021 to R23 526 in May 2021.

Year-on-year, average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased
by 9,7%.

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