Employment in the formal, nonagricultural sector increased by a marginal 0.1%, or 7 000 people, between December and March, according to the March 2013 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday.

This brought the total number of those employed in the formal sector to 8.46-million.

The transport, storage and communication industry reported the highest year-on-year increase, with employment growing by 3%, or 11 000 employees, between March 2012 and March 2013, followed closely by a 2.8% increase in the number of employees in the community, social and personal services industry, which added 65 000 workers over the year.

The mining and quarrying industry posted the most significant decrease in employee numbers, shedding 9 000 workers, or 1.7% of its workforce year-on-year. Employment in the industry decreased by 1 000 jobs between the December 2012 and the March 2013 quarters.

The manufacturing industry recorded a decrease of 0.9% or 10 000 employees year-on-year, and 0.3% or 4 000 employees quarter-on-quarter.

The construction industry increased employment by 0.5% or 2 000 employees year-on-year. Between the December 2012 and March 2013 quarters, employment increased by 1.4% or 6 000 employees.

Meanwhile, Stats SA said gross earnings paid to employees in the formal, nonagricultural sector decreased by 3.9% between the December and March quarters.

However, the R377.2-billion in gross earnings paid to employees in the formal, nonagricultural sector in the March quarter reflected a sizeable 8.1%, or R28.27-billion, year-on-year increase compared with March 2012.

In addition, the survey reflected a yearly increase of 6.4% in average monthly earnings paid to employees, from an estimated R13 143 in February 2012 to about R13 981 in February this year.

In contrast, average monthly earnings, including bonuses and overtime payments, decreased between November and February, with the QES indicating a quarterly drop of 2.2% in the average monthly earnings paid to employees, from R14 291 in November to R13 981 in February.