Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa
South Africa: Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 3,274 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, 2008–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3,274 for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2024.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 34.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa peaked at 3,554 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1,160, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 1st of 89 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,160 | — |
| 2009 | 1,546 | +33.3% |
| 2010 | 2,038 | +31.8% |
| 2011 | 2,263 | +11.1% |
| 2013 | 2,336 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 2,432 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 2,344 | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 2,391 | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 2,433 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 2,812 | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 2,855 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 2,756 | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 3,537 | +28.3% |
| 2022 | 3,554 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 3,171 | -10.8% |
| 2024 | 3,274 | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,353 | 1,160 | 1,546 | 2 |
| 2010s | 2,434 | 2,038 | 2,855 | 9 |
| 2020s | 3,258 | 2,756 | 3,554 | 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 discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa?
- Discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa was 3,274 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,554 in 2022.
- What is the lowest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,160 in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 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. Discouraged job-seekers refer to those persons of working age who during a specified reference period were without work and available for work, but did not look for work in the recent past for specific reasons (for example, believing that there were no jobs available, believing there were none for which they would qualify, or having given up hope of finding employment). Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.