Labor force with advanced education in South Africa
South Africa: Labor force with advanced education was 80.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force with advanced education in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with advanced education.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force with advanced education in South Africa stood at 80.8%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force with advanced education in South Africa peaked at 86.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 78.6%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 39th out of 125 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Labor force with advanced education in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total working-age population with advanced education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 83.1% | — |
| 2001 | 85.1% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 86.0% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 85.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 84.0% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 82.4% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 83.5% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 84.3% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 86.5% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 85.8% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 84.6% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 84.2% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 84.7% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 84.2% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 83.6% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 81.8% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 83.6% | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 83.3% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 82.0% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 78.6% | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 80.1% | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 80.3% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 81.0% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 80.8% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 84.7% | 82.4% | 86.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 83.5% | 81.8% | 84.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 80.2% | 78.6% | 81.0% | 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 labor force with advanced education in South Africa?
- Labor force with advanced education in South Africa was 80.8% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force with advanced education recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 86.5% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force with advanced education recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.6% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for labor force with advanced education?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 125 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force with advanced education rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The ratio of the labor force with advanced education to the working-age population with advanced education. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).