Number of people employed in South Africa 2024, by industry

As of the second quarter of 2024, nearly 3.83 million people in South Africa worked within the community and social services industry. The sector concentrated the highest number of employees, followed by the trade industry, which employed about 3.36 million people. 

A struggling labor market

The South African labor market faces severe challenges and obstacles. In 2023, the country had the highest unemployment rate in Africa, with almost 30 percent of the labor force being jobless. In addition, only 40 percent of the population was employed in 2021. Indeed, South Africans were the most concerned globally about finding jobs and being unemployed. According to a survey, 64 percent of South African respondents reported being worried about unemployment as of September 2023.

A highly unequal country

South Africa is the most income-unequal country in the world, as it registered a Gini score of 63 in 2021. The major reasons for this inequality originate from the country’s infamous Apartheid regime and the failure of the job market to provide enough opportunities for its people. For example, the unemployment rate among Black South Africans was close to 37 percent, compared to eight percent for white South Africans. Furthermore, unemployment in the country was more widespread among individuals with a lower level of education. Specifically, in 2023, over 50 percent of the jobless South Africans had an education level lower than matric (grade 12).