Employment in South Africa
South Africa: Employment was 17,128 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Employment in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in South Africa is 17,128, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in South Africa peaked at 17,128 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10,030, in 2002.
South Africa ranks 32nd of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10,356 | — |
| 2001 | 10,534 | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 10,030 | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 10,148 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 10,350 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 10,877 | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 11,224 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 11,716 | +4.4% |
| 2008 | 14,747 | +25.9% |
| 2009 | 14,335 | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 13,942 | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 14,198 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 14,551 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 15,027 | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 15,317 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 15,928 | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 15,968 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 16,364 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 16,610 | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 16,571 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 15,254 | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 14,884 | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 15,736 | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 16,737 | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 17,128 | +2.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 17,128 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,125, 5.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 17,128 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5,931, 2.9× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Employment in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +25.9% | 11,716 | 14,747 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11,432 | 10,030 | 14,747 | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,447 | 13,942 | 16,610 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,948 | 14,884 | 17,128 | 5 |
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 South Africa?
- Employment in South Africa was 17,128 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17,128 in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,030 in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for employment?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 174 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).