Employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment in industry (% of total employment) was 20.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry (% of total 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 (% of total employment) in South Africa is 20.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Africa peaked at 26.3% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 20.6%, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 73rd 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 (% of total employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 24.6% | — |
| 1992 | 24.6% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 24.5% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 24.5% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 24.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 24.4% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 24.5% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 24.5% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 24.5% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 25.3% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 25.8% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 25.3% | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 26.3% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 26.1% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 26.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 26.0% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 25.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 25.3% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 24.2% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 23.5% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 23.5% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 23.5% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 23.8% | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 23.4% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 23.4% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 23.2% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 22.3% | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 21.2% | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 20.6% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 21.1% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 20.6% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 20.8% | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 20.8% | -0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 20.8% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21.1%, 98% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 20.8% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.2%, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.5% | 24.4% | 24.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.6% | 24.5% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.6% | 22.3% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.8% | 20.6% | 21.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 70 Argentina 21.2% compare
- 71 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 21.1% compare
- 72 Finland 20.8% compare
- 74 New Caledonia 20.6% compare
- 75 Mauritius 20.6% compare
- 76 Brunei Darussalam 20.4% compare
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 (% of total employment) in South Africa?
- Employment in industry (% of total employment) in South Africa was 20.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.3% in 2004.
- What is the lowest employment in industry (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.6% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for employment in industry (% of total employment)?
- South Africa ranks 73rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. 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 (% of total 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).