Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa
South Africa: Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 4,135 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4,135 for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2024.
That represents a change of up 5.1% on the previous year and up 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa peaked at 4,579 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1,920, in 2008.
That places South Africa 3rd out of 88 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,565 | — |
| 2001 | 3,338 | +30.1% |
| 2002 | 3,431 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 3,761 | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 4,095 | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 3,873 | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 3,750 | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 3,819 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 1,920 | -49.7% |
| 2009 | 2,405 | +25.3% |
| 2010 | 2,991 | +24.4% |
| 2011 | 3,152 | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 3,225 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 3,204 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 3,074 | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 3,187 | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 3,225 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 3,561 | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 3,655 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 4,579 | +25.3% |
| 2021 | 4,449 | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 4,337 | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 3,935 | -9.3% |
| 2024 | 4,135 | +5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,296 | 1,920 | 4,095 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,253 | 2,991 | 3,655 | 9 |
| 2020s | 4,287 | 3,935 | 4,579 | 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 potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa?
- Potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa was 4,135 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,579 in 2020.
- What is the lowest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,920 in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- South Africa ranks 3rd out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
- Is potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.1%. 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 Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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. The potential labour force refers to persons not in employment who express an interest in this form of work but for whom existing conditions limit their active job search and/or their availability. This group is used to calculate alternative measures of labour underutilization. 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.