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South Africa · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

184th of 185 · 44th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentSouth Africa's unemployment rose from 22.5 % in 1996 to 32.4 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%25%30%35%40%32.4 %

South Africa's unemployment rose from 22.5 % in 1996 to 32.4 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

182nd of 183 · 45th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentSouth Africa's youth unemployment rose from 42.1 % in 1996 to 59.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202540%50%60%70%59.9 %

South Africa's youth unemployment rose from 42.1 % in 1996 to 59.9 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

136th of 182 · 36th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationSouth Africa's participation fell from 58.0 % in 1996 to 55.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%52%54%56%58%60%55.6 %

South Africa's participation fell from 58.0 % in 1996 to 55.6 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

118th of 182 · 33rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)South Africa's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 45.6 % in 1996 to 49.9 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202542%44%46%48%50%52%49.9 %

South Africa's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) rose from 45.6 % in 1996 to 49.9 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

168th of 182 · 41st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)South Africa's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 45.0 % in 1996 to 37.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202535%40%45%37.6 %

South Africa's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 45.0 % in 1996 to 37.6 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

26th of 182 · 5th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalSouth Africa's labour force, total rose from 16.4M in 1996 to 26.7M in 2025.20002005201020152020202515M20M25M26.7M

South Africa's labour force, total rose from 16.4M in 1996 to 26.7M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

129th of 182 · 45th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)South Africa's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 17.3 % in 1996 to 17.3 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202514%16%18%17.3 %

South Africa's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 17.3 % in 1996 to 17.3 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

46th of 182 · 1st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)South Africa's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 11.6 % in 1996 to 11.7 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020259%10%11%12%11.7 %

South Africa's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) rose from 11.6 % in 1996 to 11.7 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

126th of 182 · 44th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)South Africa's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 9.2 % in 1996 to 5.4 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%2%4%6%8%10%5.4 %

South Africa's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 9.2 % in 1996 to 5.4 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

71st of 182 · 6th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)South Africa's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 24.4 % in 1996 to 20.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%22%24%26%20.8 %

South Africa's employment in industry (% of total employment) fell from 24.4 % in 1996 to 20.8 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

42nd of 182 · 2nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)South Africa's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 66.4 % in 1996 to 73.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202564%66%68%70%72%74%76%73.8 %

South Africa's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 66.4 % in 1996 to 73.8 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

79th of 168 · 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)South Africa's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $37.8k in 1996 to intl $48.7k in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $35kintl $40kintl $45kintl $50kintl $55kintl $60kintl $48.7k

South Africa's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $37.8k in 1996 to intl $48.7k in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for South Africa.

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