Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in South Africa
South Africa: Average weekly hours usually worked per employee was 42.26 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average weekly hours usually worked per employee in South Africa is 42.26, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours usually worked per employee in South Africa peaked at 47.41 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 41.89, in 2021.
That places South Africa 32nd out of 87 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 47.08 | — |
| 2001 | 47.41 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 47.1 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 46.13 | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 45.95 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 47.06 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 45.73 | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 45.42 | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 44.42 | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 43.66 | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 43.47 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 43.5 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 43.47 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 43.29 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 43.18 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 43.16 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 43.14 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 42.97 | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 42.86 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 42.83 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.18 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 41.89 | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 41.96 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 42.32 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 42.26 | -0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 42.26 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 43.14, 98% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 42.26 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.58, 97% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 46 | 43.66 | 47.41 | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.19 | 42.83 | 43.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.12 | 41.89 | 42.32 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More work & labour data for South Africa
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.242 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.2122 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8748 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 58,057 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 14,698 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 49,126 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 45,189 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 94,314 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average weekly hours usually worked per employee in South Africa?
- Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in South Africa was 42.26 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours usually worked per employee recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.41 in 2001.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours usually worked per employee recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.89 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for average weekly hours usually worked per employee?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 87 countries with data for 2024.
- Is average weekly hours usually worked per employee rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average weekly hours usually worked per employee. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The concept of hours usually worked relates to the typical value of hours actually worked in a job per a short reference period such as one week, over a long observation period of a month, quarter, season or year that comprises the short reference measurement period used. The typical value may be the modal value of the distribution of hours actually worked per short period over the long observation period, where meaningful. The short reference period for measuring hours usually worked should be the same as the reference period used to measure employment. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.