Employment in the formal nonagricultural sector declined by 0,8%, or 67 000 jobs, between the quarter ended March 31, 2009, and the quarter ended June 30, 2009, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported on Tuesday.

Stats SA's quarterly employment survey (QES) had also shown that employment declined by 2,3%, or 198 000 jobs in the quarter ended June, compared with the quarter ended June 2008.

The manufacturing industry shed the most jobs, followed by the mining and quarrying industry.

Employment in the manufacturing industry dropped by 6,3% or 82 000 jobs between the quarter ended June 2008 and the quarter ended June 2009, while employment dropped by 1,1%, or 14 000 jobs, quarter-on-quarter in June.

This was mainly as a result of declines in employment in: the manufacturing of wood and products of wood and cork, paper and paper products, the printing and reproduction of recorded media; the manufacturing of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel; the manufacturing of basic metals, fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment and office, accounting and computing machinery; the manufacturing of transport equipment; and the manufacturing of furniture, the QES showed.

The mining and quarrying industry had reported a 5% decline in employment, or 26 000 less jobs, in the quarter ended June 2009, compared with the year before, while the quarter-on-quarter figures showed a 1,2% decline.

Further, about 23 000 less people were employed in the construction industry in the quarter ended June, compared with the year before. The quarter-on-quarter employment figures showed a 1,5% decline or 7 000 less jobs.

This was mainly as a result of declines in employment in the building of complete construction and building installations, stated Stats SA.