Stats SA announced on Tuesday that total employment in South Africa decreased by 21,000 or 0.2% between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, with sectors such as business services, trade, transport and construction taking some of the hardest hits.
The statistics look at all categories of employment across sectors, including full-time employment, to part-time employment. It also traces statistics of total gross earnings, basic salaries, bonuses and overtime payments.
The decrease from 9,991 000 in December 2022 to 9,970 000 in March 2023 was largely due to decreases in trade, which lost 36,000 jobs, business services, which lost 32,000 jobs, transport, which lost 2,000 jobs, and construction, which also lost 2,000 jobs.
“Full-time employment decreased by 63,000 quarter-on-quarter, from 8,881 000 in December 2022 to 8,818 000 in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in business services, trade, community services, and transport,” Stats SA said in a memo of key findings.
Stats SA found that the electricity industry reported no quarterly change in part-time employment, while decreases were noted in trade, construction and manufacturing. Part-time employment decreased 73,000 or 6.0% year-on-year between March 2022 and March 2023.
“Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R34.1bn or 4.0% from R864.2bn in December 2022 to R830bn in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in trade, community services, manufacturing, construction, transport and electricity,” Stats SA said.
It noted increases in community services, mining by 5,000, manufacturing by 4,000, and electricity. Total employment decreased by 97,000 or 1% 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 community services, business services, and transport,” Stats SA said.
Year-on-year total gross earnings increased by R43.2bn between March 2022 and March 2023. Basic salary/wages paid to employees decreased by R11.8bn from R751.2bn in December 2022 to R739.4bn in March 2023.
The year-on-year basic salary increased by R32.7bn or 4.6% between March 2022 and March 2023. Bonuses paid to employees decreased by R22.5bn from R89.5bn in December 2022 to R66.9bn in March 2023.
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