PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday showed that a total of 21 000 or -0,2% of jobs were lost between December 2022 and March 2023.
Statistics released on Monday show there were 9 991 000 jobs in December 2022, and 9 970 000 in March 2023.
StatsSA said the job losses were largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade (-36 000 or -1,6%), business services (-32 000 or -1,4%), transport (-2 000 or -0,5%) and construction (-2 000 or -0,4%).
However, there were increases in the community services (41 000 or 1,5%), mining (5 000 or 1,1%), manufacturing (4 000 or 0,3%) and electricity (1 000 or 1,8%).
Total employment decreased by 97 000 or -1,0% year-on-year between March 2022 and March 2023.
Full-time employment decreased by 63 000 or -0,7 % quarter-on-quarter, from 8 881 000 in December 2022 to 8 818 000 in March 2023.
This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: business services (-57 000 or -2,6%), trade (-14 000 or -0,7%), community services (-5 000 or -0,2%) and transport (-3 000 or -0,8%).
However, there were increases in the following industries: mining (5 000 or 1,1%), manufacturing (5 000 or 0,4%), construction (5 000 or 1,2%) and electricity (1 000 or 1,8%).
Full-time employment decreased by 24 000 or -0,3% year-on-year between March 2022 and March 2023.
Part-time employment increased by 42 000 or 3,8% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 110 000 in December 2022 to 1 152 000 in March 2023.
This was largely due to increases in the following industries: community services (46 000 or 9,7%), business services (25 000 or 12,1%), and transport (1 000 or 6,3%).
The electricity industry reported no quarterly change. However, there were decreases in the following industries: trade (-22 000 or -8,6%), construction (-7 000 or -9,2%) and manufacturing (-1 000 or -1,3%).
Part-time employment decreased by 73 000 or -6,0% year-on-year between March 2022 and March 2023.
Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R34,1 billion or -4,0% from R864,2 billion in December 2022 to R830,0 billion in March 2023. This was largely due to decreases in the following industries: trade, community services, manufacturing, construction, transport and electricity.
However, there were increases in the following industries: business services and mining.
The year-on-year total gross earnings increased by R43,2 billion or 5,5% between March 2022 and March 2023.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the data provides damning proof that South Africa is in the midst of a jobs bloodbath at the hands of failed ANC policy and rampant corruption.
“The report has indicated a tragic loss of 97 000 jobs between March 2022 and March 2023, which equates to more than 8000 jobs per month or 260 jobs each day.”
“This is an indictment on the ANC and a clear sign of a failing state and an uncaring government,” Steenhuisen said.
He said between a stagnating and receding economy, and a growing population that is ill-equipped for the working world, “the ANC is solely responsible for South Africa’s jobs bloodbath and the state of despair millions of South Africans find themselves in.”
Despite growing cost of living, StatsSA data showed that the basic salary/wages paid to employees decreased by R11,8 billion or -1,6% from R751,2 billion in December 2022 to R739,4 billion in March 2023.
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