Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) was 11.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 11.6% for employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Africa peaked at 14.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 10.8%, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 74th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 12.1% | — |
| 1992 | 12.1% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 12.0% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 12.0% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 12.2% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 12.3% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 12.4% | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 12.5% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 12.5% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 12.5% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 13.7% | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 14.8% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 14.5% | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 14.3% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 14.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 13.4% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 13.4% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 13.2% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 12.5% | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 12.6% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 12.2% | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 12.0% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 12.3% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 11.7% | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 12.1% | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 11.4% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 11.6% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 10.8% | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 11.6% | +6.7% |
| 2025 | 11.6% | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.3%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 11.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.7%, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.2% | 12.0% | 12.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 13.9% | 12.5% | 14.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.7% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.5% | 10.8% | 11.8% | 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 employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Africa?
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in South Africa was 11.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.8% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for employment in industry, female (% of female employment)?
- South Africa ranks 74th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).