The September 2015 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that an estimated 8 951 000 persons were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy. This reflected a quarterly increase of 7 000 employees (+0,1%) between June 2015 and September 2015 and an annual increase of
4 000 employees (0,0%) between September 2014 and September 2015.

The quarterly increase was mainly due to increases in employment reported by business services (12 000 or 0,6%); trade (10 000 or 0,5%) and community services (8 000 or 0,3%). There were decreases reported by the following industries: mining and quarrying (-12 000 or -2,5%); manufacturing (-5 000 or -0,4%); construction (-5 000 or -1,0%) and transport (-1 000 or -0,2). Electricity industry remained unchanged at 58 000 employees in September 2015 quarter.

Gross earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector during the quarter ended September 2015 amounted to R495 billion. This reflected a quarterly increase of R15,5 billion (+3,2%) compared with the quarter ended June 2015 and an annual increase of R30,8 billion (+6,6%) compared with the quarter ended September 2014.

The increase in gross earnings during the third quarter of 2015 compared with the second quarter of 2015 was mainly due to R5,5 billion (+3,5%) in the community, social and personal services industry; R5,4 billion (+4,6%) in the financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services industry; R1,8 billion (+3,3%) in the manufacturing industry; R1,5 billion (+5,4%) in the mining and quarrying industry; R616 million (+0,9%) in the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motor cycles and personal and household goods, hotels and restaurants industry; R278 million (+0,9%) in the transport and communications industry; R211 million (+3,6%) in the electricity, gas and water supply industry and R192 million (+1,0%) in the construction industry.

The September 2015 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that an estimated monthly average of R17 387 was paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector during August 2015. This reflected a quarterly increase of 3,5% between May 2015 and August 2015 and an annual increase of 6,2% between August 2014 and August 2015.