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Labour

South Africa

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Employment by sector
  • Employment in agriculture5.4%
  • Employment in industry20.8%
  • Employment in services73.8%
Source: World Bank WDI
Female labor force participation1990–2025
44.145.64748.449.919902025
Source: WB Gender
Youth unemployment (15-24)1991–2016
32.237.843.549.254.819912016
Source: WB Jobs
IndicatorValue
Labour force participation55.6 %ILOSTAT [2024] 55.57 %·World Bank WDI [2025] 55.58 %
Female labour force participation49.8 %ILOSTAT [2024]
Unemployment32.4 %World Bank WDI [2025]
Youth unemployment59.9 %World Bank WDI [2025]
Employment-to-population ratio37.6 %World Bank WDI [2025]
Employment in agriculture5.41 %World Bank WDI [2025]
Employment in industry20.8 %World Bank WDI [2025]
Employment in services73.8 %World Bank WDI [2025]
Female labor force participation49.9 %WB Gender [2025]
Informal employmentNo authoritative open source found
Youth unemployment (15-24)53.4 %WB Jobs [2016]
Wage and salaried workers84.8 %WB Jobs [2016]

Section metadata

Data year2025
EditionDatabook 2026
Coverage11/12
LicenseCC-BY
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Datasets on this page
  • ILOSTAT
    ilostat
    Edition: 2024
  • World Bank WDI
    world_bank_wdi
    Edition: 2024
  • WB Gender
    world_bank_gender
    Edition: 2026
  • WB Jobs
    world_bank_jobs
    Edition: 2025
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About this data

South Africa's labour on Databook compiles 11 indicators from 4 open datasets including ILOSTAT, World Bank WDI, WB Gender. Key figures include labour force participation (55.6 %), female labour force participation (49.8 %). Data is referenced to 2025. Every value carries its source and publication year, published under open licenses.