Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa
South Africa: Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) was 80.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa is 80.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa peaked at 84.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 80.1%, in 2022.
South Africa ranks 49th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 83.8% | — |
| 1992 | 83.8% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 83.8% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 83.8% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 83.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 84.0% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 84.1% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 84.2% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 84.3% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 84.5% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 83.7% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 83.5% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 83.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 83.3% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 83.3% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 82.2% | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 84.0% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 84.1% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 83.7% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 83.3% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 83.1% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 82.7% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 83.6% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 84.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 83.4% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 82.7% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 82.5% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 82.0% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 81.2% | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 80.5% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 80.2% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 80.1% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 81.6% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 80.6% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 80.6% | -0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 80.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 67.9%, 1.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 80.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 36.6%, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 84.0% | 83.8% | 84.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 83.6% | 82.2% | 84.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 82.9% | 81.2% | 84.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.6% | 80.1% | 81.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 46 Ireland 81.7% compare
- 47 Switzerland 81.5% compare
- 48 Czechia 80.7% compare
- 50 Australia 80.5% compare
- 51 Bosnia and Herzegovina 80.4% compare
- 52 North Macedonia 79.6% compare
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 wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa?
- Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) in South Africa was 80.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 84.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.1% in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment)?
- South Africa ranks 49th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Wage and salaried workers, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Wage and salaried workers (employees) are those workers who hold the type of jobs defined as "paid employment jobs," where the incumbents hold explicit (written or oral) or implicit employment contracts that give them a basic remuneration that is not directly dependent upon the revenue of the unit for which they work.