Long usual weekly working hours — Employment in South Africa
South Africa: Long usual weekly working hours — Employment was 3,005 Persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Long usual weekly working hours — Employment in South Africa, 2008–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long usual weekly working hours — employment in South Africa is 3,005 Persons, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long usual weekly working hours — employment in South Africa peaked at 4,007 Persons in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2,645 Persons, in 2021.
That places South Africa 9th out of 40 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Long usual weekly working hours — Employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 4,007 Persons | — |
| 2009 | 3,569 Persons | -10.9% |
| 2010 | 3,296 Persons | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 3,326 Persons | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 3,298 Persons | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 3,329 Persons | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 3,300 Persons | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 3,498 Persons | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 3,520 Persons | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 3,528 Persons | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 3,498 Persons | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 3,469 Persons | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 2,867 Persons | -17.4% |
| 2021 | 2,645 Persons | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 2,889 Persons | +9.2% |
| 2023 | 3,173 Persons | +9.8% |
| 2024 | 3,052 Persons | -3.8% |
| 2025 | 3,005 Persons | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,788 Persons | 3,569 Persons | 4,007 Persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 3,406 Persons | 3,296 Persons | 3,528 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,938 Persons | 2,645 Persons | 3,173 Persons | 6 |
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 long usual weekly working hours — employment in South Africa?
- Long usual weekly working hours — employment in South Africa was 3,005 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest long usual weekly working hours — employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,007 Persons in 2008.
- What is the lowest long usual weekly working hours — employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,645 Persons in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for long usual weekly working hours — employment?
- South Africa ranks 9th out of 40 countries with data for 2025.
- Is long usual weekly working hours — employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.1%. 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 Long usual weekly working hours — Employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on employment by long hour bands (50 and over, 60 and over) for usual weekly hours worked in the main job. Actual hours of work instead of usual hours of work are only available in some countries (Japan and Korea). Data are broken down by professional status - employees, total employment - by sex and age groups. Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.