LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income

Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization was 43.76 in 2027. ▲ Rising

Latest (2027)
43.76
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
2nd
of 87 groups
All-time high
46.45
in 2021
All-time low
32.3
in 2007
Years of data
23
2005–2027

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income, 2005–2027

010203040502005201620272005: 32.82006: 32.42007: 32.32008: 32.42009: 34.82010: 36.92011: 36.92012: 37.12013: 36.92014: 36.82015: 36.72016: 37.82017: 38.12018: 38.62019: 39.82020: 442021: 46.52022: 44.62023: 42.52024: 42.82025: 43.52026: 43.62027: 43.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income recorded 43.76 for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization in 2027.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income peaked at 46.45 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 32.3, in 2007.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 2nd of 87 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income, year by year

Annual values for LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (ILO modelled estimates) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income, 2005 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2005 32.8
2006 32.45 -1.1%
2007 32.3 -0.5%
2008 32.39 +0.3%
2009 34.84 +7.6%
2010 36.92 +6.0%
2011 36.9 -0.1%
2012 37.1 +0.5%
2013 36.88 -0.6%
2014 36.77 -0.3%
2015 36.67 -0.3%
2016 37.85 +3.2%
2017 38.09 +0.6%
2018 38.59 +1.3%
2019 39.83 +3.2%
2020 43.99 +10.4%
2021 46.45 +5.6%
2022 44.58 -4.0%
2023 42.46 -4.7%
2024 42.76 +0.7%
2025 43.52 +1.8%
2026 43.64 +0.3%
2027 43.76 +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.95 32.3 34.84 5
2010s 37.56 36.67 39.83 10
2020s 43.9 42.46 46.45 8

More work & labour data for Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income

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Frequently asked questions

What is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income was 43.76 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
The highest recorded value was 46.45 in 2021.
What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 32.3 in 2007.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization?
Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income ranks 2nd out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization in Sub-Saharan Africa: Upper-middle income. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu4-composite-rate-of-labour-underutilization-ilo-modelled-estimates/sub-saharan-africa-upper-middle-income/

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About this data

Indicator
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
87 places, 2,001 data points, 2005–2027
Last refreshed

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. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.