Female share of employment in senior and middle management in South Africa
South Africa: Female share of employment in senior and middle management was 39.3% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female share of employment in senior and middle management in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Labour Market-related SDG Indicators database (ILOSDG), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, female share of employment in senior and middle management in South Africa stood at 39.3%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female share of employment in senior and middle management in South Africa peaked at 39.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22.5%, in 2001.
That places South Africa 32nd out of 100 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Female share of employment in senior and middle management in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.6% | — |
| 2001 | 22.5% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 25.6% | +13.6% |
| 2003 | 27.7% | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 26.8% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 30.5% | +13.6% |
| 2006 | 31.4% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 32.0% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 31.5% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 33.2% | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 32.0% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 33.7% | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 34.8% | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 33.1% | -4.8% |
| 2014 | 34.3% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 33.9% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 35.7% | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 35.2% | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 33.9% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 33.3% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 35.1% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 35.2% | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 36.0% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 39.3% | +9.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 39.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.7%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 39.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30.8%, 1.3× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.4% | 22.5% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 32.0% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.4% | 35.1% | 39.3% | 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 female share of employment in senior and middle management in South Africa?
- Female share of employment in senior and middle management in South Africa was 39.3% in 2024, according to Labour Market-related SDG Indicators database (ILOSDG), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest female share of employment in senior and middle management recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest female share of employment in senior and middle management recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.5% in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for female share of employment in senior and middle management?
- South Africa ranks 32nd out of 100 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female share of employment in senior and middle management rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Market-related SDG Indicators database (ILOSDG), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Female share of employment in senior and middle management (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The female share of employment in senior and middle management conveys the number of women in management as a percentage of employment in management. Employment in management is defined based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations. This series refers to senior and middle management only, thus excluding junior management (category 1 in both ISCO-08 and ISCO-88 minus category 14 in ISCO-08 and minus category 13 in ISCO-88).