The December 2009 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey showed that the number of people employed in the formal non-agricultural business sector of the South African economy increased by about 18 000 persons (or +0,2%) fromSeptember 2009 (an estimated 8 143 000 employees) to December 2009 (an estimated 8 161 000 employees).

The December 2009 Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) survey shows that an estimated 8 161 000 people were employed in the formal non-agricultural business sector of the South African economy.

This therefore reflects an annual decrease of about 351 000 employees (or -4,1%) compared with December 2008, when an estimated 8 512 000 people were employed.