According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) for the second quarter of 2016 released by Statistics South Africa, employment in the formal non-agricultural sector of the South African economy decreased by 67 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 9 285 000 in March 2016 to 9 218 000 in June 2016.
This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services (48 000 or -1,8%); manufacturing (-7 000 or -0,6%); transport (-7 000 or -1,5%); trade (-4 000 or -0,2%); mining and quarrying (-1 000 or -0,2%) and business services (-1 000 or 0,0%).
However there was an increase of 1 000 employees or (+0,2%) by construction industry. The electricity industry remained unchanged.
For the quarter ended June 2016, employee gross earnings paid to employees increased by R32-million (0,01%) from R523,311-billion in March 2016 to R523,343-billion in June 2016. The increase was mainly due to increases in the community services; transport; construction; manufacturing; mining and quarrying; trade and electricity industries.
There was a decrease reported by the business services industry.
Average monthly earnings, including bonuses and overtime payments, for all industries in the formal non-agricultural sector of the economy increased by 3,7% from R17 396 in February 2016 to R18 045 in May 2016.