Total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector decreased by 14,000 (-0.1%) in the second quarter of 2026, dropping from 10,439 million in March 2026 to 10,425 million by June 2026. This according to the Statistics SA (Stats SA) Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q2:2026) survey released yesterday, 29 September.
This has been attributed to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing (-20,000), business services (-13,000), trade (-8,000), transport (-5,000).
However, the following industries saw increases: community services (29,000), electricity (1,000), mining (1,000) and construction (1,000).
Total employment year-on-year decreased by 95,000 between June 2025 and June 2026.
Full-time vs part-time employment
The Stats SA said full-time employment decreased by 96,000 year-on-year between June 2025 and June 2026; while full-time employment decreased by 40,000 quarter-on-quarter from 9,370,000 in March 2026 to 9,330,000 in June 2026.
This was due to decreases in the following industries: business services (-17,000), manufacturing (-10,000), trade (-7,000), transport (-6,000) and community services (-3,000), and electricity (-1,000).
The following industries reported increases: construction (3,000) and mining (1,000).
Part-time employment increased by 26,000 quarter-on-quarter, from 1,069,000 in March 2026 to 1,095,000 in June 2026. This was due to increases in the following industries: community services (32,000), business services (4,000, electricity (2,000), and transport (1,000).
However, there were decreases reported by the following industries: manufacturing (-10,000), construction (-2,000), and trade (-1,000).
Part-time employment increased by 1,000 year-on-year between June 2025 and June 2026.
Earnings
Stats SA reported gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R4.8bn from R1.029tn in March 2025 to R1.025tn in June 2026. This was due to decreases in the following industries: business services, mining, and transport. However, the following industries reported an increase: community services, trade, construction, manufacturing, and electricity.
Year-on-year gross earnings increased by R35.1bn between June 2025 and June 2026.
Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R15.5bn from R914.6bn in March 2026 to R930.1bn in June 2026. This was due to increases in the following industries: community services, business services, construction, trade, manufacturing. However, mining, electricity and transport, reported decrease.
Year-on-year basic salary/wages increased by R26.7bn between June 2025 and June 2026.
Bonuses paid to employees decreased by R23bn from R85.8bn in March 2025 to R62.8bn in June 2026. This was due to decreases in the following industries: business services, community services, transport, manufacturing, and electricity. However, trade and construction industries, reported an increase.
Year-on-year bonus payments increased by R6.1bn between June 2025 and June 2026.
Overtime paid to employees increased by R2.7bn from R29.4bn in March 2025 to R32.1bn in June 2026. This was due to increases in the following industries: community services, business services, manufacturing, transport, trade, electricity and construction.
Year-on-year overtime payments increased by R2.3bn between June 2025 and June 2026.
Average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 2.6% from R29,825 in February 2026 to R30,611 in May 2026.
Year-on-year average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 4.1% between May 2025 and May 2026.
