23 March 2016

Media Release

QUARTERLY EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

Employment

There was an estimated 8 992 000 jobs reported in the formal non-agricultural sector in December 2015. This was an increase of 43 000 employees or +0,5% quarter to quarter and an increase of 6 000 employees or +0,1% year on year.

Quarterly employment gains were observed in three industries, namely trade (42 000 or 2,3%), Finance & other business services (16 000 or 0,8%) and Community & Social services (13 000 or 0,5%).

The same industries also recorded year on year growth with Trade increasing by 36 000 employees, Finance & other business services by 22 000 employees and Community & social services by 7 000 employees year on year.

The quarterly growth in trade was driven by Retail trade which grew by 34 000 and Hotels & restaurants which grew by 6 000.

Mining industry continued to decline in the fourth quarter by 14 000 employees, this followed a decline of 13 000 observed in the third quarter. Mining also declined year-on-year by 29 000 or -5,9%.

Construction declined both quarter to quarter (8 000) and year-on-year (19 000). A similar pattern was observed in Transport industry which also declined both quarter-to-quarter (2 000) and year-on-year (6 000).

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

Gross earnings paid in December 2015 reflected a quarterly increase of R31 billion or 6,3% and an annual increase of R29 billion (+5,9%) in December 2015 compared with the same quarter of the previous year. The changes in gross earnings in all industries were due to increases in salaries, payment of bonuses, overtime payments, commission and/or leave pay.

Average monthly earnings increased by 0,7% to R17 517 quarter to quarter and increased by 6,7% year-on-year. The largest growth in average monthly earnings was observed in Electricity (7,9%), Mining (4,6%) and Manufacturing (2,3%).

Quarterly declines in average monthly earnings were observed in transport industry (-6,3%), community & social services industry (-1,9%), Finance & other business services industry (-1,5%), Trade (-0,3%) and Construction industry (-0,2%).

Issued by Statistics South Africa

For media enquiries contact:

Lesedi Dibakwane

(012) 3108578

0828057088

Lesedid@statssa.gov.za

For technical enquires contact:310 8024 or 082 888 2600

Ms Kefiloe Masiteng

Deputy Director-General: Population and Social Statistics

Tel: 012 310 2109

Email: kefiloem@statssa.gov.za

Mr Peter Buwembo

Executive Manager: Labour Statistics

Tel:  012 310 8688

Email: Peterb@statssa.gov.za