Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa

South Africa: Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 814.37 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
814.37
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
18th
of 90 countries
All-time high
1,086
in 2020
All-time low
629.06
in 2011
Years of data
16
2008–2024

Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, 2008–2024

02505007501.0k2008201620242008: 796.32009: 8142010: 684.72011: 629.12013: 734.92014: 710.42015: 817.72016: 829.62017: 843.42018: 849.92019: 861.72020: 1.1k2021: 977.82022: 8132023: 810.22024: 814.4

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2024, time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa stood at 814.37.

That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa peaked at 1,086 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 629.06, in 2011.

That places South Africa 18th out of 90 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in South Africa, 2008 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2008 796.33
2009 814.01 +2.2%
2010 684.75 -15.9%
2011 629.06 -8.1%
2013 734.92 +16.8%
2014 710.42 -3.3%
2015 817.7 +15.1%
2016 829.58 +1.5%
2017 843.35 +1.7%
2018 849.85 +0.8%
2019 861.72 +1.4%
2020 1,086 +26.1%
2021 977.78 -10.0%
2022 813.04 -16.8%
2023 810.19 -0.4%
2024 814.37 +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 805.17 796.33 814.01 2
2010s 773.48 629.06 861.72 9
2020s 900.36 810.19 1,086 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 15 Uganda 946.66 compare
  2. 16 Viet Nam 919.14 compare
  3. 17 Australia 882.8 compare
  4. 19 Ghana 786.32 compare
  5. 20 Republic of Korea 738.61 compare
  6. 21 Chile 666.05 compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa?
Time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in South Africa was 814.37 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1,086 in 2020.
What is the lowest time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 629.06 in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
South Africa ranks 18th out of 90 countries with data for 2024.
Is time-related underemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. 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 Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/time-related-underemployment-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
90 places, 1,573 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

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. Persons in time-related underemployment comprise all persons in employment, who satisfy the following three criteria during the reference period: a) are willing to work additional hours; b) are available to work additional hours i.e., are ready, within a specified subsequent period, to work additional hours, given opportunities for additional work; and c) worked less than a threshold relating to working time i.e., persons whose hours actually worked in all jobs during the reference period were below a threshold, to be chosen according to national circumstances. For details, refer to the Resolution concerning the measurement of underemployment and inadequate employment situations. 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.