LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in South Africa
South Africa: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 35.85 in 2027. ▲ Rising
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in South Africa, 2005–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 35.85 for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in 2027.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in South Africa peaked at 38.34 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 26.41, in 2007.
That places South Africa 3rd out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 26.69 | — |
| 2006 | 26.48 | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 26.41 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 26.6 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 27.87 | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 28.38 | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 27.98 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 28.33 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 28.25 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 28.37 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 28.99 | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 30.35 | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 30.8 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 30.65 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 32.19 | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 34.26 | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 38.34 | +11.9% |
| 2022 | 36.72 | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 35.38 | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 35.5 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 35.63 | +0.4% |
| 2026 | 35.73 | +0.3% |
| 2027 | 35.85 | +0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 35.85 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.16, 2.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 35.85 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.61, 2.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.81 | 26.41 | 27.87 | 5 |
| 2010s | 29.43 | 27.98 | 32.19 | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.93 | 34.26 | 38.34 | 8 |
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 lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in South Africa?
- Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in South Africa was 35.85 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 38.34 in 2021.
- What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.41 in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.