{"id":19387,"date":"2026-03-31T11:51:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19387"},"modified":"2026-03-31T13:50:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T11:50:57","slug":"sas-formal-non-agricultural-employment-rises-in-fourth-quarter-of-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/?p=19387","title":{"rendered":"SA\u2019s Formal Non-Agricultural Employment Rises in Fourth Quarter of 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q4:2025)<\/a> survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by
18 000 (0,2%) in the fourth quarter of 2025, with employment rising from 10,533 million in September 2025 to 10,551 million by December 2025. According to the survey, 102 000 jobs were lost between December 2024 and December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trade led the gains, adding 37\u202f000 jobs and emerging as the key driver of growth. Business services also expanded, contributing a further 17\u202f000 jobs. However, these gains were offset by declines in several sectors. Construction experienced the largest drop, losing 13\u202f000 jobs, followed by manufacturing, which shed 11\u202f000. Employment also contracted in community services (-5\u202f000), transport (-4\u202f000), and mining (-3\u202f000). The electricity industry remained stable, recording no change over the quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full\u2011time employment increased modestly in the fourth quarter of 2025, rising from 9,420 million in September 2025 to 9,434 million in December 2025, an overall gain of 14\u202f000 jobs. Growth in full\u2011time jobs was primarily driven by the trade industry, which recorded an increase of 23\u202f000 jobs, followed by business services with 7\u202f000, and community services with 4\u202f000 additional jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, several industries experienced declines over the period. The construction sector reported the largest reduction, shedding 8\u202f000 full\u2011time jobs, while the transport industry recorded a decrease of 5\u202f000. The manufacturing and mining industries contracted by 4\u202f000 and 3\u202f000 jobs respectively. The electricity sector remained unchanged for the quarter, reporting no movement in full\u2011time employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year-on-year, the number of full-time jobs declined by 69 000 from December 2024 to December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part\u2011time employment recorded a modest increase in the fourth quarter of 2025, rising from 1,113 million in September 2025 to 1,117 million in December 2025, an overall gain of 4\u202f000 jobs. The trade industry was the primary driver of this growth, adding 14\u202f000 part\u2011time jobs, while business services contributed a further 10\u202f000. The transport industry also saw a small uptick of 1\u202f000 jobs, and the electricity sector remained unchanged over the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, declines were observed in several industries. Community services experienced the largest reduction, shedding 9\u202f000 part\u2011time jobs. The manufacturing and construction industries also contracted, losing 7\u202f000 and 5\u202f000 jobs respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year-on-year, part-time employment declined by 33 000 jobs when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gross earnings paid to employees rose by R74,7 billion (7,4%) in the fourth quarter of 2025, increasing from R1,0 trillion in September 2025 to R1,08 trillion in December 2025. This growth was supported across most major industries, with notable contributions from community services, business services, trade, manufacturing, construction, transport, electricity, and mining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Gross earnings paid to employees increased by 4,8% year-on-year, amounting to R49,6 billion from December 2024 to December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Basic salaries and wages increased by 1,8% in the fourth quarter of 2025, rising by R16,6\u202fbillion to reach R930,8\u202fbillion, up from R914,3\u202fbillion in September 2025. The increase was driven largely by higher salary payments in the community services, business services, and trade sectors. Manufacturing also recorded growth, followed by additional gains in the construction and transport industries. More moderate increases were observed in the mining and electricity sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basic salaries and wages increased by R40,4\u202fbillion year\u2011on\u2011year, representing a 4,5% rise between December 2024 and December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus payments rose sharply in the fourth quarter of 2025, increasing by R58,1\u202fbillion (92,5%) to reach R120,9\u202fbillion. This substantial growth was supported by higher bonus payouts across several key industries, notably business services, trade, community services, manufacturing, construction, transport, and electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus payments increased by 7,6%, equivalent to R8,6\u202fbillion, on a year\u2011on\u2011year basis from December 2024 to December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overtime payments increased marginally in December 2025, rising by 0,1% (R41\u202fmillion) to reach a total of R28,4\u202fbillion. The increase was primarily driven by the community services industry, with construction, manufacturing, and trade also recording moderate gains. In contrast, overtime payments declined in the business services, electricity, and transport industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overtime payments increased by R700\u202fmillion year\u2011on\u2011year, representing a 2,5% rise between December 2024 and December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average monthly earnings (AME) paid to employees increased slightly, rising by 0,1% quarter\u2011on\u2011quarter from R29\u202f650 in August 2025 to R29\u202f690 in November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a year-on-year basis, average monthly earnings increased by 4,9%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the fourth quarter of 2025 was characterised by modest employment growth alongside strong increases in earnings, driven by higher salaries and wages, and seasonal bonus payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you missed the link in the article, download the full report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q4:2025) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by18 000 (0,2%) in the fourth quarter of 2025, with employment rising from 10,533 million in September 2025 to 10,551 million by December 2025. According to the survey, 102 000 jobs were   read more »<\/a><\/p>\n

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