Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), September 2020

Total employment increased by 75 000 or 0,8% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 506 000 in June 2020 to 9 581 000 in September 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (31 000 or 1,5%), community services (26 000 or 1,0%), construction (24 000 or 4,9%) and manufacturing (8 000 or 0,7%).

The electricity industry showed no change in employment, however the following industries showed a decrease, business services (-7 000 or -0,3%), transport (-5 000 or -1,1%) and mining (-2 000 or -0,4%).

Total employment decreased by 616 000 or -6,0% year-on-year between September 2019 and September 2020.

Full-time employment increased by 47 000 or 0,5% quarter-on-quarter, from 8 592 000 in June 2020 to 8 639 000 in September 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade (31 000 or 1,6%), construction (17 000 or 4,0%), community services (12 000 or 0,5%) and manufacturing (1 000 or 0,1%),

The electricity industry showed no change in employment, however the following industries showed a decrease, transport (-7 000 or -1,6%), business services (-7 000 or -0,3) and mining (-2 000 or -0,4%).

Full-time employment decreased by 525 000 or -5,7% year-on-year between September 2019 and September 2020.

Part-time employment increased by 28 000 or 3,1% quarter-on-quarter, from 914 000 in June 2020 to 942 000 in September 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (14 000 or 3,8%), manufacturing (7 000 or 10,9%), construction (7 000 or 11,7%) and transport (2 000 or -12,5%).

Part-time employment decreased by 91 000 or -8,8% year-on-year between September 2019 and September 2020.

Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R35,5 billion or (5,5%) from R644,7 billion in June 2020 to R680,2 billion in September 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services, trade, manufacturing, construction, community services, mining and electricity.

The transport industry reported a decrease.

Year-on-year, total gross earnings decreased by R43,8 billion or (-6,1%) between September 2019 and September 2020.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R32,9 billion (5,5%) from R598,7 billion in June 2020 to R631,6 billion in September 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: trade, manufacturing, business services, construction, community services, mining, transport, and electricity.

Year-on-year, basic salary/wages decreased by R31,7 billion or (-4,8%) between September 2019 and September 2020.

Bonus and overtime paid to employees increased by R2,7 billion (5,8%) from R46 billion in June 2020 to R48,7 billion in September 2020. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: business services, trade, manufacturing, construction and community services.

However transport and electricity industries decreased.

Year-on-year, bonus and overtime payments decreased by R12,2 billion or (-20,0%) between September 2019 and September 2020.

Average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by 5,3% quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year by 0,9%.

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