The number of people employed in the formal non-agricultural business sector increased by about 131 000 from March to June, according to Statistics SA’s quarterly employment statistics released on Tuesday.
Employment in this sector increased from about 6 945-million to about 7 076-million or 1,9%, it said.
Gross earnings paid to employees during the quarter ended in June amounted to R151 981-million, an increase of about 3,8% from the quarter ended in March, says the report published on Stats SA’s website.
The mining and quarrying industry reported a 0,2% increase of 1 000 employees between the March and June quarters, while the manufacturing industry grew by about 1,2% or 14 000 employees and the construction industry 12,3% or 46 000 employees.
Employment in the wholesale and retail trade industry grew by 2,2%; the transport, storage and communication industry by 2,6%; the financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services industry 1,5% and the community, social and personal services industry 0,6%.
Gross earnings grew by the largest margin in the electricity, gas and water supply industry with 47,9%; followed by the construction industry with 16,4% and the transport, storage and communication industry with 8,1%, Stats SA said. – Sapa