By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The number of South Africans with jobs rose 0.4% quarter on quarter in the three months to end-June, driven mainly by an increase in part-time jobs, according to official data.
Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) shows total formal employment rose by 39,000, to 10.078-million from 10.039-million at the end of March, mainly as a result of increases in the community services, business services, mining, and electricity sectors.
According to the report, released on Thursday, the increase was due to more jobs in community services (40 000 or 1.4%), business services (12 000 or 0.5%), mining (2 000 or 0.4%) and electricity (1 000 or 1.7%).
However, there were job losses in manufacturing (10 000 or 0.8%), transport (3 000 or 0.7%), trade (2 000 or 0.1%) and construction (1 000 or 0.2%).
Total employment was up 104 000 or 1.0% over the previous year, but it came from part-time work.
Full-time employment decreased by 25 000, or 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, to 8 791 000 in June, while part-time employment increased by 64 000 or 5.2% quarter-on-quarter.
The community services sector that contributed to the increase in total employment ditched full-time jobs for part-time work. With increases in part-time business services, construction, and electricity jobs.
But more jobs in the electricity sector did not guarantee more money, with it being among the sectors to see a decrease in earnings paid to employees.
Stats SA said gross earnings paid to employees increased by R3,6 billion or 0.4% to R832,4 billion in June.
“This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services, trade, transport, construction, manufacturing and mining. However, there were decreases in the following industries: business services and electricity.
“The year-on-year total gross earnings increased by R42,9 billion or 5.4% between June 2022 and June 2023,” it said.
Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R19,3 billion or 2.6% from R738,5 billion in March to R757,8 billion in June.
Stats SA announced last month the official unemployment rate for South Africans decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 32.6% in the second quarter from 32.9%.