The number of people employed in the formal nonagricultural sector of the South African economy increased by about 38 000 persons, or 0.4%, from September 2013 to an estimated 8.5-million employees in December 2013, the December Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) has revealed.

This was led by the wholesale and retail trade repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods, and hotels and restaurants industry, which added 22 000 employees, or 1.3% of its labour force, quarter-on-quarter.

Similarly, the financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services industry added 5 000 employees, while the community, social and personal services industry reported an increase of 45 000 employees or 1.9%.

The mining and quarrying industry, manufacturing industry, construction industry, transport, storage and communications industry reported a year-on-year decrease of 16 000 employees, or -3.1%, at the end of December.

The electricity, gas and water supply industry reported no change in December 2013 compared with December 2012.

Meanwhile, gross earnings paid to employees in the formal nonagricultural sector increased between the quarters ended September and December.

Gross earnings paid to employees during the fourth quarter amounted to R422-billion, reflecting a quarterly increase of R24-billion, or 6.2%, compared with the quarter ended September.

In addition, average monthly earnings, including bonuses and overtime payments, paid to employees in the formal nonagricultural sector increased between August 2013 and November 2013.

The December 2013 QES survey reflected a quarterly increase of 0.8% in average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal nonagricultural sector between August and November that year.

Gross earnings paid to employees in the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods, and hotels and restaurants industry reflected a quarter-on-quarter increase of R5-billion, or 9.5%, while employees in the financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services industry received increased earnings of R8.3-billion, or 9.2%.

In contrast, gross earnings paid to employees in the electricity, gas and water supply industry reflected the lowest increase of R14-million, or 2.2% quarter-on-quarter.