Jobs gap rate in Southern Africa

Southern Africa: Jobs gap rate was 41.9 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
41.9
Change on year
up 0.2%
Rank
1st
of 87 groups
All-time high
43.9
in 2021
All-time low
30
in 2007
Years of data
24
2004–2027

Jobs gap rate in Southern Africa, 2004–2027

0102030402004201520272004: 30.62005: 30.42006: 30.12007: 302008: 302009: 32.42010: 34.92011: 35.12012: 34.92013: 34.62014: 34.62015: 34.32016: 35.62017: 35.92018: 36.42019: 37.72020: 412021: 43.92022: 42.72023: 40.62024: 40.92025: 41.82026: 41.82027: 41.9

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Southern Africa recorded 41.9 for jobs gap rate in 2027.

That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 16.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, jobs gap rate in Southern Africa peaked at 43.9 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 30, in 2007.

Southern Africa ranks 1st of 87 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Jobs gap rate in Southern Africa, year by year

Annual values for Jobs gap rate in Southern Africa, 2004 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2004 30.6
2005 30.4 -0.7%
2006 30.1 -1.0%
2007 30 -0.3%
2008 30 +0.0%
2009 32.4 +8.0%
2010 34.9 +7.7%
2011 35.1 +0.6%
2012 34.9 -0.6%
2013 34.6 -0.9%
2014 34.6 +0.0%
2015 34.3 -0.9%
2016 35.6 +3.8%
2017 35.9 +0.8%
2018 36.4 +1.4%
2019 37.7 +3.6%
2020 41 +8.8%
2021 43.9 +7.1%
2022 42.7 -2.7%
2023 40.6 -4.9%
2024 40.9 +0.7%
2025 41.8 +2.2%
2026 41.8 +0.0%
2027 41.9 +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.58 30 32.4 6
2010s 35.4 34.3 37.7 10
2020s 41.83 40.6 43.9 8

Countries ranked near Southern Africa

  1. 1 Senegal 42.5 compare
  2. 2 South Africa 41.9 compare
  3. 3 Kosovo 34.8 compare
  4. 4 Palestine, State of 30.7 compare

See the full ranking of 157 places →

More work & labour data for Southern Africa

All data for Southern Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is jobs gap rate in Southern Africa?
Jobs gap rate in Southern Africa was 41.9 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest jobs gap rate recorded in Southern Africa?
The highest recorded value was 43.9 in 2021.
What is the lowest jobs gap rate recorded in Southern Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 30 in 2007.
How does Southern Africa rank for jobs gap rate?
Southern Africa ranks 1st out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is jobs gap rate rising or falling in Southern Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Jobs gap rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Jobs gap rate in Southern Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/jobs-gap-rate/southern-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Jobs gap rate
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
157 places, 3,301 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The jobs gap rate is defined as the sum of the unemployed, the potential labour force and willing non-jobseekers divided by the sum of the extended labour force and willing non-jobseekers. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.