{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"za-employment-rate","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-employment-rate","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/za-employment-rate/","title":"South Africa Employment Rate (2025)","description":"South Africa's Employment Rate: 37.6 % of total population ages 15+ in 2025, unchanged YoY. World Bank (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS), 1991–2025.","domain":"labor","category":"Labour & Employment","keywords":["Labour & Employment","World Bank","South Africa","2025"],"publisher":"World Bank","frequency":"Annual","geography":"South Africa","temporal_coverage":"1991/2025","unit":"% of total population ages 15+","last_updated":"2026-07-26","last_updated_text":"26 July 2026","data_as_of":"2025","variable_measured":"South Africa Employment Rate","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"World Bank","url":"https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS?locations=ZA"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Annual"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"1991–2025"},{"label":"Observations","value":"35"},{"label":"Geography","value":"South Africa"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"26 July 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"South Africa (2025)","value":"37.6","unit":"% of total population ages 15+","trend":{"direction":"neutral","value":"unchanged YoY"}},{"label":"YoY Change","value":"unchanged","unit":"percentage points"},{"label":"Trend","value":"neutral","unit":""},{"label":"Series length","value":"35","unit":"years of data"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"South Africa Employment Rate"}],"observation_count":35,"observations":[{"period":"1991","value":44.606},{"period":"1992","value":44.427},{"period":"1993","value":44.416},{"period":"1994","value":44.571},{"period":"1995","value":44.85},{"period":"1996","value":44.978},{"period":"1997","value":44.885},{"period":"1998","value":44.612},{"period":"1999","value":44.349},{"period":"2000","value":44.214},{"period":"2001","value":44.094},{"period":"2002","value":43.935},{"period":"2003","value":43.689},{"period":"2004","value":43.591},{"period":"2005","value":43.516},{"period":"2006","value":43.505},{"period":"2007","value":43.439},{"period":"2008","value":43.286},{"period":"2009","value":41.264},{"period":"2010","value":39.365},{"period":"2011","value":39.317},{"period":"2012","value":39.524},{"period":"2013","value":40.041},{"period":"2014","value":40.044},{"period":"2015","value":40.862},{"period":"2016","value":40.195},{"period":"2017","value":40.393},{"period":"2018","value":40.319},{"period":"2019","value":39.534},{"period":"2020","value":35.779},{"period":"2021","value":34.332},{"period":"2022","value":35.701},{"period":"2023","value":37.359},{"period":"2024","value":37.632},{"period":"2025","value":37.58}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"year","label":"Year"},{"key":"value","label":"% of total population ages 15+"},{"key":"yoyChange","label":"YoY Change"}],"rows":[{"year":"2025","value":"37.6","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2024","value":"37.6","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"},{"year":"2023","value":"37.4","yoyChange":"+1.7pp"},{"year":"2022","value":"35.7","yoyChange":"+1.4pp"},{"year":"2021","value":"34.3","yoyChange":"-1.5pp"},{"year":"2020","value":"35.8","yoyChange":"-3.7pp"},{"year":"2019","value":"39.5","yoyChange":"-0.8pp"},{"year":"2018","value":"40.3","yoyChange":"-0.1pp"},{"year":"2017","value":"40.4","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"},{"year":"2016","value":"40.2","yoyChange":"-0.7pp"},{"year":"2015","value":"40.9","yoyChange":"+0.9pp"},{"year":"2014","value":"40.0","yoyChange":"unchanged"},{"year":"2013","value":"40.0","yoyChange":"+0.5pp"},{"year":"2012","value":"39.5","yoyChange":"+0.2pp"},{"year":"2011","value":"39.3","yoyChange":"-0.1pp"},{"year":"2010","value":"39.4","yoyChange":"-1.9pp"},{"year":"2009","value":"41.3","yoyChange":"-2.0pp"},{"year":"2008","value":"43.3","yoyChange":"-0.1pp"},{"year":"2007","value":"43.4","yoyChange":"-0.1pp"},{"year":"2006","value":"43.5","yoyChange":"unchanged"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What does this indicator measure?","answer":"This page tracks the employment-to-population ratio in South Africa (share of 15+ population employed) from 1990 to present. Compare to ILO global benchmarks. It is published by World Bank and updated annually."},{"question":"How current is this data?","answer":"The most recent observation covers 2025. World Bank typically publishes this series with a lag of several months after the reference period. The series runs 1991–2025 (35 observations)."},{"question":"What is the long-term trend?","answer":"The series peaked at 45 % of total population ages 15+ in 1996 and reached its lowest recorded value of 34.3 in 2021. The latest reading of 37.6 in 2025 is unchanged on the previous period."}]}