Employers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Employers, male (% of male employment) was 7.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa is 7.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa peaked at 9.1% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 7.1%, in 1991.
That places South Africa 27th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.1% | — |
| 1992 | 7.1% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 7.1% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 7.2% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 7.3% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 7.3% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 7.4% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 7.4% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 8.0% | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 8.1% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 8.2% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 8.4% | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 9.1% | +8.7% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | -15.2% |
| 2008 | 7.7% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 7.7% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 7.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 7.6% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 7.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 7.5% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 7.8% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 7.8% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 8.0% | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 8.4% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 8.2% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 7.3% | -7.4% |
| 2024 | 7.5% | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 7.6% | +0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.4%, 1.7× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.7%, 2.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.3% | 7.1% | 7.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 7.5% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.8% | 7.3% | 8.4% | 6 |
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 employers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa?
- Employers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa was 7.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employers, male (% of male employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.1% in 2006.
- What is the lowest employers, male (% of male employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.1% in 1991.
- How does South Africa rank for employers, male (% of male employment)?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employers, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employers, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employers are those workers who, working on their own account or with one or a few partners, hold the type of jobs defined as a "self-employment jobs" i.e. jobs where the remuneration is directly dependent upon the profits derived from the goods and services produced), and, in this capacity, have engaged, on a continuous basis, one or more persons to work for them as employee(s).