Second quarter employment declines by 119k

Total employment decreased by 119 000 from 10 067 000 in March 2022 to 9 948 000 in June 2022.

Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke released South Africa’s latest Quarterly Employment for the second quarter of 2022 on Tuesday.

While there was a decrease in quarter-to-quarter employment, the country recorded an increase of 74 000 year-on-year total employment between June 2021 and June 2022.

Maluleke said the decrease in employment was largely driven by job losses in community services, business services, construction, manufacturing and electricity.

However, there were increases in trade, mining and transport.

"Full-time employment decreased by 80 000 year-on-year between June 2021 and June 2022. Part-time employment decreased by 103 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 1 225 000 in March 2022 to 1 122 000 in June 2022. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services (-92 000), manufacturing (-13 000) and trade (-2 000)," said Maluleke.

The total gross earnings paid to employees increased by R0,5 billion from R786,8 billion in March 2022 to R787,3 billion in June 2022. 

"This was largely due to increases in the following industries: transport (R3,3 billion or 9,4%), community services (R2,7 billion or 1,0%), trade (R1,7 billion or 1,5%), construction (R1,7 billion or 5,2%) and mining (R0,7 billion or 1,6%).

However, there were decreases in the following industries: business services (-R9,2 billion or -4,2%), manufacturing (-R0,3 billion or -0,4%) and electricity (-R0,1 billion or -0,7%).

“The year-on-year, total gross earnings increased by R33,6 billion or 4,5% between June 2021 and June 2022," added Maluleke.