SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa

South Africa: SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of was 9.78 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
9.78
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
78th
of 156 countries
All-time high
16.26
in 2002
All-time low
9.39
in 2023
Years of data
25
2000–2024

SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa, 2000–2024

0510152000201220242000: 14.92001: 15.62002: 16.32003: 15.52004: 16.12005: 15.62006: 15.62007: 15.12008: 14.32009: 13.82010: 13.32011: 13.32012: 12.62013: 12.22014: 11.62015: 11.22016: 10.72017: 11.12018: 10.82019: 10.82020: 10.12021: 9.62022: 10.22023: 9.42024: 9.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa is 9.78, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa peaked at 16.26 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 9.39, in 2023.

That places South Africa 78th out of 156 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 14.92
2001 15.59 +4.5%
2002 16.26 +4.3%
2003 15.54 -4.4%
2004 16.09 +3.5%
2005 15.58 -3.2%
2006 15.58 +0.0%
2007 15.11 -3.0%
2008 14.32 -5.2%
2009 13.77 -3.8%
2010 13.34 -3.1%
2011 13.3 -0.3%
2012 12.61 -5.2%
2013 12.22 -3.1%
2014 11.63 -4.8%
2015 11.2 -3.7%
2016 10.74 -4.1%
2017 11.09 +3.2%
2018 10.78 -2.8%
2019 10.77 -0.0%
2020 10.14 -5.8%
2021 9.6 -5.3%
2022 10.23 +6.5%
2023 9.39 -8.2%
2024 9.78 +4.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.28 13.77 16.26 10
2010s 11.77 10.74 13.34 10
2020s 9.83 9.39 10.23 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 75 Senegal 10.07 compare
  2. 76 Ecuador 9.86 compare
  3. 77 Ghana 9.8 compare
  4. 79 Greece 9.74 compare
  5. 80 Maldives 9.72 compare
  6. 81 Dominican Republic 9.72 compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa?
Sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa was 9.78 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 16.26 in 2002.
What is the lowest sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 9.39 in 2023.
How does South Africa rank for sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of?
South Africa ranks 78th out of 156 countries with data for 2024.
Is sdg indicator 9.2.2: manufacturing employment as a proportion of 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 International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/sdg-indicator-9-2-2-manufacturing-employment-as-a-proportion-of-total-employment-previous/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
SDG indicator 9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
243 places, 5,043 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. This indicator conveys the share of employment in manufacturing. Employment in manufacturing is defined based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC). Employment refers to all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work) or in self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). This indicator is calculated based on data on employment by sex and economic activity. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.