Jobs in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by 52 000 in the third quarter of 2021, bringing the total number of persons employed in the formal non-agricultural sector in South Africa to approximately 9,62 million. According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q3:2021) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), year-on-year, formal sector jobs increased by 54 000.

Total employment increased by 52 000 (0,5%) quarter-on-quarter, from 9 568 000 in June 2021 to  9 620 000 in September 2021. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (63 000 or 2,3%), mining (7 000 or 1,5%) and transport (1 000 or 0,2%). The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: trade (-13 000 or -0,6%), business services (-3 000 or -0,1%), manufacturing (-2 000 or -0,2%) and construction (-1 000 or -0,2%).

Total employment increased by 56 000 (0,6%) year-on-year between September 2020 and September 2021.

Full-time employment decreased by 35 000 (-0,4%) quarter-on-quarter, from 8 579 000 in June 2021 to 8 544 000 in September 2021. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: community services (-26 000 or -1,1%), trade (-12 000 or -0,6%), construction (-3 000 or -0,7%) and business services (-1 000 or -0,1%). The manufacturing, electricity and transport industries reported no quarterly change. However, the mining industry reported an increase of 7 000 employees or 1,5%.

Full-time employment decreased by 77 000 (-0,9%) year-on-year between September 2020 and September 2021.

Part-time employment increased by 87 000 (8,8%) quarter-on-quarter, from 989 000 in June 2021 to  1 076 000 in September 2021. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (89 000 or 21,9%), construction (2 000 or 3,1%) and transport (1 000 or 5,0%). The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: manufacturing (-2 000 or -2,8%), business services (-2 000 or -0,9%) and trade (-1 000 or -0,5%).

Part-time employment increased by 133 000 (14,1%) year-on-year between September 2020 and September 2021.
Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R26 billion (3,6%) from R721 billion in June 2021 to R747 billion in September 2021. This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services, business services, mining, construction and manufacturing. However, there were decreases in the following industries: transport, electricity and trade.