Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) was 28.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry, 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 employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in South Africa is 28.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in South Africa peaked at 35.7% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 2021.
That places South Africa 66th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 31.7% | — |
| 1992 | 31.7% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 31.5% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 31.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 32.0% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 32.4% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 32.8% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 32.9% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 33.1% | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 33.2% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 33.9% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 34.1% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 33.6% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 35.3% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 35.1% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 35.2% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 35.7% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 35.6% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 34.9% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 33.9% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 33.0% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 32.3% | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 32.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 32.5% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 33.4% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 32.3% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 32.3% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 32.4% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 30.6% | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 28.7% | -6.2% |
| 2021 | 27.9% | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 28.6% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 28.4% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 28.4% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 28.4% | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 28.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26.9%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 28.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.8%, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.2% | 31.5% | 33.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 34.7% | 33.2% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.5% | 30.6% | 33.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.4% | 27.9% | 28.7% | 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, male (% of male employment) in South Africa?
- Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in South Africa was 28.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, male (% of male employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 2007.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, male (% of male employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for employment in industry, male (% of male employment)?
- South Africa ranks 66th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. 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, male (% of male 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).