The September 2016 QES survey showed that an estimated 9 282 000 persons were employed in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy. This reflected a net quarterly increase of 93 000 employees (1,0%) between June 2016 and September 2016 following a revised decrease of 96 000 employees (-1,0%) between March 2016 and June 2016. There was an annual increase of 80 000 employees (+0,9%) between the third quarter of 2016 and the same quarter of the previous year.

Increases in employment were led by community services industry with 78 000 employees, trade industry with 7 000 employees, construction and business services industry with 6 000 employees, and mining industry with 2 000 employees. However there were decreases in employment reported by manufacturing and transport industries with 3 000 employees each.

Electricity industry remained unchanged for the quarter.

Gross earnings and average monthly earnings

Total earnings paid to employees amounted to R543 billion in September 2016. This is a quarterly increase of R20 billion or 3.9%. There was an annual increase of R34 billion (6,7%) in September 2016 compared with the same quarter of the previous year.

Increase in gross earnings were led by business services industry with R9,7 billion quarter-to-quarter, followed by community service industry with R3,4 billion, trade industry with R2,8 billion, manufacturing industry with R1,9 billion, electricity industry with R1,8 billion, mining industry with R979 million and finally construction industry with R680 million.

There was a quarter-to-quarter decrease in transport services industry by R754 million.

There was a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0,1% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector from R18 077 in May 2016 to R18 104 in August 2016.

On an annual basis, average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 4,4% from R17 344 in August 2015 to R18 104 in August 2016.