Economic Outlook No 114 — Total employment in South Africa
South Africa: Economic Outlook No 114 — Total employment was 16.91 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Economic Outlook No 114 — Total employment in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 114 — total employment in South Africa is 16.91 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 114 — total employment in South Africa peaked at 16.91 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 12.44 million, in 2003.
That places South Africa 14th out of 35 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Economic Outlook No 114 — Total employment in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.02 million | — |
| 2001 | 12.64 million | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 12.54 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 12.44 million | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 12.76 million | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 13.53 million | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 14.13 million | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 14.21 million | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 14.58 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 14.19 million | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 13.79 million | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 14.07 million | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 14.42 million | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 14.87 million | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 15.15 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 15.74 million | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 15.78 million | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 16.17 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 16.39 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 16.35 million | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 15.06 million | -7.9% |
| 2021 | 14.69 million | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 15.54 million | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 16.35 million | +5.2% |
| 2024 | 16.66 million | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 16.91 million | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.40 million | 12.44 million | 14.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.27 million | 13.79 million | 16.39 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.87 million | 14.69 million | 16.91 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 114 — total employment in South Africa?
- Economic outlook no 114 — total employment in South Africa was 16.91 million in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 114 — total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.91 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 114 — total employment recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.44 million in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for economic outlook no 114 — total employment?
- South Africa ranks 14th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is economic outlook no 114 — total employment rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 114 — Total employment (labour force survey basis). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. EO114 Database inventory EO114 Last historical points OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact: eco.outlook@oecd.org