Total employment increased by 29 000 or 0,3% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 520 000 in June 2025 to 10 549 000 in September 2025. This was due to increases in the following industries: community services (39 000 or 1,4%), trade (6 000 or 0,3%), and mining (5 000 or 1,1%), while electricity and transport remained unchanged. However, there were decreases reported by the following industries: business services (-12 000 or -0,5%), manufacturing (-5 000 or -0,4%), and construction (-4 000 or -0,7%).

Total employment decreased by 79 000 or -0,7% year-on-year between September 2024 and September 2025.

Full-time employment decreased by 21 000 or -0,2% quarter-on-quarter, from 9 426 000 in June 2025 to 9 405 000 in September 2025. This was due to decreases in the following industries: business services (-18 000 or -0,8%), manufacturing (-4 000 or -0,3%), community services (-3 000 or -0,1%), trade (-2 000 or -0,1%), while electricity and transport remained unchanged. However, there were increases reported by the following industries: mining (5 000 or 1,1%), and construction (1 000 or 0,2%).

Full-time employment decreased by 72 000 or -0,8% year-on-year between September 2024 and September 2025.

Part-time employment increased by 50 000 or 4,6% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 094 000 in June 2025 to 1 144 000 in September 2025. This was due to increases in the following industries: community services (42 000 or 9,5%), trade (8 000 or 3,3%), business services (6 000 or 2,5%), while electricity and transport remained unchanged. However, there were decreases reported by the following industries: construction (-5 000 or -7,2%), %), and manufacturing (-1 000 or -1,2%).

Part-time employment decreased by 7 000 or -0,6% year-on-year between September 2024 and September 2025.

Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R10,7 billion or 1,1% from R990 billion in June 2025 to R1 trillion in September 2025. This was due to increases in the following industries: business services, community services, mining, manufacturing, electricity and construction. However, transport and trade reported a decrease.

Year-on-year gross earnings increased by R31,2 billion or 3,2% between September 2024 and September 2025.

Basic salary/wages paid to employees increased by R7,8 billion or 0,9% from R903,4 billion in June 2025 to R911,2 billion in September 2025. This was due to increases in the following industries: trade, mining, manufacturing, community services, construction, electricity and transport. However, business services reported a decrease. Year-on-year basic salary/wages increased by R30,9 billion or 3,5% between September 2024 and September 2025.

Bonuses paid to employees increased by R6,2 billion or 10,9% from R56,7 billion in June 2025 to R62,9 billion in September 2025. This was due to increases in the following industries: business services and community services. However, the following industries trade, transport, manufacturing, construction, and electricity reported a decrease.

Year-on-year bonus payments increased by R2,2 billion or 3,7% between September 2024 and September 2025.

Overtime paid to employees decreased by R3,3 billion or -11,1% from R29,9 billion in June 2025 to R26,6 billion in September 2025. This was due to decreases in the following industries: business services, community services, trade, manufacturing, construction, transport and electricity.

Year-on-year overtime payments decreased by R1,9 billion or -6,9% between September 2024 and September 2025.

Average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 0,3% from R29 402 in May 2025 to R29 490 in August 2025.