Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Employers, total (% of total employment) was 5.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 5.6% for employers, total (% of total employment) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employers, total (% of total employment) in South Africa peaked at 6.6% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 2015.
South Africa ranks 29th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.7% | — |
| 1992 | 5.7% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 5.7% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 5.7% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 5.7% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 5.8% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 5.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 5.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 6.1% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 6.6% | +9.1% |
| 2007 | 5.7% | -13.5% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 5.5% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 5.3% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 5.5% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 5.7% | +8.0% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | +6.5% |
| 2021 | 5.9% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 5.7% | -4.3% |
| 2023 | 5.4% | -4.8% |
| 2024 | 5.6% | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 5.6% | +0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.7%, 1.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 5.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.6%, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.9% | 5.4% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.7% | 5.4% | 6.0% | 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, total (% of total employment) in South Africa?
- Employers, total (% of total employment) in South Africa was 5.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employers, total (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 2006.
- What is the lowest employers, total (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for employers, total (% of total employment)?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employers, total (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, total (% of total 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).