LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in South Africa
South Africa: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 41.8 in 2024. ▼ Falling
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 41.8 for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in 2024.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in South Africa peaked at 45.89 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 29.53, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 1st of 89 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40.26 | — |
| 2001 | 43.17 | +7.2% |
| 2002 | 45.69 | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 45.89 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 44.85 | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 43.41 | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 42.18 | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 40.73 | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 29.53 | -27.5% |
| 2009 | 32.22 | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 35.16 | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 35.44 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 35.07 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 35.09 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 34.6 | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 35.93 | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 36.21 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 36.81 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 38.22 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 41.62 | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 44.88 | +7.8% |
| 2022 | 43.63 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 41.45 | -5.0% |
| 2024 | 41.8 | +0.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 41.8 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.28, 4.5× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 41.8 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.78, 2.2× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40.79 | 29.53 | 45.89 | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.84 | 34.6 | 38.22 | 9 |
| 2020s | 42.68 | 41.45 | 44.88 | 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 lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in South Africa?
- Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in South Africa was 41.8 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.89 in 2003.
- What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.53 in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
- Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.