Employment in services (% of total employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Employment in services (% of total employment) was 73.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in services (% of total employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
South Africa recorded 73.8% for employment in services (% of total employment) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in services (% of total employment) in South Africa peaked at 73.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 64.7%, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 43rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in services (% of total employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 65.9% | — |
| 1992 | 65.9% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 66.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 66.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 66.3% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 66.4% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 66.5% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 66.6% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 66.7% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 67.0% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 66.3% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 64.7% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 66.2% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 65.9% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 67.9% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 68.1% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 68.4% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 68.6% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 69.7% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 70.5% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 71.2% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 71.7% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 71.5% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 72.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 70.6% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 71.1% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 71.4% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 71.7% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 72.5% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 73.3% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 73.7% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 73.4% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 73.9% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 73.8% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 73.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.3% | 65.9% | 66.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 67.3% | 64.7% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.4% | 70.5% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.6% | 73.3% | 73.9% | 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 services (% of total employment) in South Africa?
- Employment in services (% of total employment) in South Africa was 73.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 73.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment in services (% of total employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.7% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for employment in services (% of total employment)?
- South Africa ranks 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in services (% of total employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. 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 Employment in services (% 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 services sector consists of wholesale and retail trade and restaurants and hotels; transport, storage, and communications; financing, insurance, real estate, and business services; and community, social, and personal services, in accordance with divisions 6-9 (ISIC 2) or categories G-Q (ISIC 3) or categories G-U (ISIC 4).