Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in South Africa
South Africa: Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and was 44.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in South Africa, 2010–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 44.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup for employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in 2025.
The figure is up 11.4% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in South Africa peaked at 54.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2015 and was at its lowest, 40.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 37th of 37 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 51.11 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 2011 | 50.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 51.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 51.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 50.95 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 54.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +7.6% |
| 2016 | 50.8 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 49.85 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 49.29 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 47.77 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 42.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -10.9% |
| 2022 | 46.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.5% |
| 2024 | 40.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -13.1% |
| 2025 | 44.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +11.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 44.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 73.5 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, 61% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 50.83 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 47.77 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 54.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.42 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 40.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 46.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 4 |
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 rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in South Africa?
- Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in South Africa was 44.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 54.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2015.
- What is the lowest employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 37 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and gender. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on employment rates by educational attainment level, age group and gender. The default table displays 2025 data (or the latest available year) on the employment rates of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary, upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary, or tertiary attainment. The selection can be changed to display data by more detailed educational attainment level, by programme orientation, by gender and by age group. Filter the time period to display historical data. Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on September 29, 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.