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The number of employees in South Africa’s formal nonagricultural sector decreased by 1 000 between March and June, owing to a decrease in the manufacturing, transport, business services and construction industries, Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA’s) Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey for the second quarter of the year reveals.
Employee numbers declined by 1.8% or 161 000, between June 2014 and June this year.
Meanwhile, gross earnings had increased by R3.8-billion quarter-on-quarter to R479.9-billion in the June quarter. Gross earnings were also R32.7-billion higher year-on-year.
Investec economist Kamilla Kaplan said in a statement that the survey reflected a continued deterioration in labour market conditions, in line with the weaker performance of the economy, depressed business confidence and declining private sector investment growth rates.