SA loses more jobs in the first quarter of 2023

Pretoria – Statistics SA (StatsSA) has reported that total employment decreased by 21 000 or -0,2% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 991 000 in December 2022 to 9 970 000 in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-36 000 or -1,6%), business services (-32 000 or -1,4%), transport (-2 000 or -0,5%) and construction (-2 000 or -0,4%). However, there were increases in the following industries: community services (41 000 or 1,5%), mining (5 000 or 1,1%), manufacturing (4 000 or 0,3%) and electricity (1 000 or 1,8%).

Total employment decreased by 97 000 or -1,0% year-on-year between March 2022 and March 2023.

Full-time employment decreased by 63 000 or -0,7 % quarter-on-quarter, from 8 881 000 in December 2022 to 8 818 000 in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services (-57 000 or -2,6%), trade (-14 000 or -0,7%), community services (-5 000 or -0,2%) and transport (-3 000 or -0,8%). However, there were increases in the following industries: mining (5 000 or 1,1%), manufacturing (5 000 or 0,4%), construction (5 000 or 1,2%) and electricity (1 000 or 1,8%).

Full-time employment decreased by 24 000 or -0,3% year-on-year between March 2022 and March 2023.

Part-time employment increased by 42 000 or 3,8% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 110 000 in December 2022 to 1 152 000 in March 2023. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (46 000 or 9,7%), business services (25 000 or 12,1%), and transport (1 000 or 6,3%). The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: trade (-22 000 or -8,6%), construction (-7 000 or -9,2%) and manufacturing (-1 000 or -1,3%).

Part-time employment decreased by 73 000 or -6,0% year-on-year between March 2022 and March 2023.

Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R34,1 billion or -4,0% from R864,2 billion in December 2022 to R830,0 billion in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade, community services, manufacturing, construction, transport and electricity. However, there were increases in the following industries: business services and mining.

The year-on-year total gross earnings increased by R43,2 billion or 5,5% between March 2022 and March 2023.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees decreased by R11,8 billion or -1,6% from R751,2 billion in December 2022 to R739,4 billion in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade, community services, manufacturing, construction and electricity. However, there were increases in the following industries: business services, mining and transport.

The year-on-year basic salary/wages increased by R32,7 billion or 4,6% between March 2022 and March 2023.

Bonus paid to employees decreased by R22,5 billion or -25,2% from R89,5 billion in December 2022 to R66,9 billion in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services, manufacturing, trade, construction, transport and electricity. However, the business services industry reported a quarterly increase.

The year-on-year bonus payments increased by R7,7 billion or 13,0% between March 2022 and March 2023.

Overtime paid to employees increased by R0,2 billion or 0,8% from R23,5 billion in December 2022 to R23,7 billion in March 2023. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services, trade, electricity and business services. However, there were decreases in the following industries: manufacturing, construction and transport.

The year-on-year overtime payments increased by R2,8 billion or 13,6% between March 2022 and March 2023.

Average monthly earnings showed a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 2,7%, from R26 002 in Nov 2022 to R25 304 in February 2023. Year-on-year, average monthly earnings increased by 6,8%.