Manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment in South Africa
South Africa: Manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment was 9.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Industrial Development Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 9.8% for manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment in South Africa peaked at 16.3% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 9.4%, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 75th of 152 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.9% | — |
| 2001 | 15.6% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 16.3% | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 15.6% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 16.1% | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 15.6% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 15.6% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 15.1% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 14.3% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 13.3% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 13.3% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 12.2% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 11.6% | -4.8% |
| 2015 | 11.2% | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 10.7% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 11.1% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 10.8% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 10.8% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 10.1% | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 9.6% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 10.2% | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 9.4% | -8.2% |
| 2024 | 9.8% | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.3% | 13.8% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 10.7% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8% | 9.4% | 10.2% | 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 manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment in South Africa?
- Manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment in South Africa was 9.8% in 2024, according to United Nations Industrial Development Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.3% in 2002.
- What is the lowest manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.4% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment?
- South Africa ranks 75th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Industrial Development Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Manufacturing jobs as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment - 13th ICLS (%).