Unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa

South Africa: Unemployment with intermediate education, male was 30.7% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
30.7%
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
1st
of 126 countries
All-time high
32.1%
in 2021
All-time low
18.9%
in 2008
Years of data
24
2000–2024

Unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa, 2000–2024

01020302000201220242000: 26.2 % of male labor force with intermediate education2001: 27.4 % of male labor force with intermediate education2002: 27.9 % of male labor force with intermediate education2003: 27.4 % of male labor force with intermediate education2004: 25.1 % of male labor force with intermediate education2005: 23.6 % of male labor force with intermediate education2006: 22.4 % of male labor force with intermediate education2007: 21.7 % of male labor force with intermediate education2008: 18.9 % of male labor force with intermediate education2009: 21.6 % of male labor force with intermediate education2010: 22.3 % of male labor force with intermediate education2011: 22.4 % of male labor force with intermediate education2013: 22.6 % of male labor force with intermediate education2014: 22.9 % of male labor force with intermediate education2015: 22.8 % of male labor force with intermediate education2016: 23 % of male labor force with intermediate education2017: 24.2 % of male labor force with intermediate education2018: 25.1 % of male labor force with intermediate education2019: 26.1 % of male labor force with intermediate education2020: 27 % of male labor force with intermediate education2021: 32.1 % of male labor force with intermediate education2022: 31.5 % of male labor force with intermediate education2023: 30.1 % of male labor force with intermediate education2024: 30.7 % of male labor force with intermediate education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of male labor force with intermediate education.

Analysis

In 2024, unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa stood at 30.7%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 34.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa peaked at 32.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.9%, in 2008.

South Africa ranks 1st of 126 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment with intermediate education, male (% of male labor force with intermediate education) in South Africa, 2000 to 2024.
Year % of male labor force with intermediate education Change
2000 26.2%
2001 27.4% +4.8%
2002 27.9% +1.7%
2003 27.4% -1.7%
2004 25.1% -8.4%
2005 23.6% -5.9%
2006 22.4% -5.3%
2007 21.7% -3.1%
2008 18.9% -12.9%
2009 21.6% +14.4%
2010 22.3% +3.4%
2011 22.4% +0.2%
2013 22.6% +0.9%
2014 22.9% +1.2%
2015 22.8% -0.5%
2016 23.0% +1.2%
2017 24.2% +5.3%
2018 25.1% +3.5%
2019 26.1% +4.2%
2020 27.0% +3.3%
2021 32.1% +18.9%
2022 31.5% -1.6%
2023 30.1% -4.5%
2024 30.7% +1.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 30.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.3%, 5.8× the median. (40 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 30.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.7%, 4.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 24.2% 18.9% 27.9% 10
2010s 23.5% 22.3% 26.1% 9
2020s 30.3% 27.0% 32.1% 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 2 Botswana 27.9% compare
  2. 3 Angola 27.5% compare
  3. 4 Palestine, State of 24.2% compare

See the full ranking of 146 places →

More work & labour data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa?
Unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa was 30.7% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment with intermediate education, male recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 32.1% in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment with intermediate education, male recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 18.9% in 2008.
How does South Africa rank for unemployment with intermediate education, male?
South Africa ranks 1st out of 126 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment with intermediate education, male rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 34.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with intermediate education, male (% of male labor force with intermediate education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment with intermediate education, male in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-with-intermediate-education-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-with/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment with intermediate education, male (% of male labor force with intermediate education)
Unit
% of male labor force with intermediate education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
146 places, 2,672 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of the labor force with an intermediate level of education who are unemployed. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).