Key findings: P0277 - Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES), March 2026
Total employment decreased by 121 000 or -1,1% year-on-year between
March 2025 and March 2026.
Full-time employment decreased by 24 000 or -0,3% quarter-on-quarter,
from 9 433 000 in December 2025 to 9 409 000 in March 2026. This was due to
decreases in the following industries: trade (-27 000 or -1,3%), community
services (-3 000 or -0,1%), transport (-2 000 or -0,4%), and construction (-1
000 or -0,2%), manufacturing (-1 000 or -0,1%), while electricity remained
unchanged. However, there were increases reported by the following industries:
business services (8 000 or 0,4%), and mining (2 000 or 0,4%).
Full-time employment decreased by 48 000 or -0,5% year-on-year between
March 2025 and March 2026.
Part-time employment decreased by 56 000 or -5,0% quarter-on-quarter,
from 1 115 000 in December 2025 to 1 059 000 in March 2026. This was due to
decreases in the following industries: community services (-50 000 or -10,5%),
trade (-13 000 or -4,8%), business services (-1 000 or -0,5%), transport (-1
000 or -5,9%), electricity (-1 000 or -50,0%). However, there were increases
reported by the following industries: manufacturing (8 000 or 10,5%), and
construction (2 000 or 3,4%).
Part-time employment decreased by 73 000 or -6,4% year-on-year between
March 2025 and March 2026.
Gross earnings paid to employees decreased by R43,4 billion or -4,0%
from R1,08 trillion in December 2025 to R1,04 trillion in March 2026. This was
due to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing, community
services, trade, construction, electricity and transport. However, business
services and mining reported increases.
Basic salary/wages paid to employees decreased by R6,9 billion or -0,7%
from R928,4 billion in December 2025 to R921,5 billion in March 2026. This was
due to decreases in the following industries: manufacturing, construction,
business services, community services, transport, and trade. However, mining,
and electricity showed an increase.
Year-on-year basic salary/wages increased by R40,4 billion or 4,6%
between March 2025 and March 2026.
Bonuses paid to employees decreased by R35,8 billion or -29,5% from
R121,0 billion in December 2025 to R85,3 billion in March 2026. This was due to
decreases in the following industries: community services, trade,
manufacturing, construction, electricity, and transport. However, business
services reported an increase.
Year-on-year bonus payments increased by R9,4 billion or 12,4% between
March 2025 and March 2026.
Overtime paid to employees decreased by R700 million or -2,3% from R29,9
billion in December 2025 to R29,2 billion in March 2026. This was due to
decreases in the following industries: manufacturing, construction, community
services, electricity and business services. However, there were increases
reported by transport and trade industries.
Year-on-year overtime payments increased by R1,5 billion or 5,6% between
March 2025 and March 2026.
Average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 0,9% from R29 738
in November 2025 to R29 997 in February 2026.