South Africa - Labor force, female (% of total labor force)

Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in South Africa was 44.83 as of 2021. Its highest value over the past 31 years was 44.92 in 2019, while its lowest value was 38.19 in 1990.

Definition: Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.

Source: Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2019.

See also:

Year Value
1990 38.19
1991 38.50
1992 38.82
1993 39.18
1994 39.55
1995 39.94
1996 40.27
1997 40.61
1998 40.95
1999 41.33
2000 41.72
2001 42.04
2002 42.38
2003 42.73
2004 43.06
2005 43.34
2006 43.55
2007 43.71
2008 43.82
2009 43.72
2010 43.55
2011 44.03
2012 43.93
2013 44.38
2014 44.41
2015 44.55
2016 44.48
2017 44.80
2018 44.90
2019 44.92
2020 44.67
2021 44.83

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The labor force is the supply of labor available for producing goods and services in an economy. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave. Data are generated with World Bank population estimates and ILO estimates on labor force participation rate. The ILO estimates are harmonized to ensure comparability across countries and over time by accounting for differences in data source, scope of coverage, methodology, and other country-specific factors. The estimates are based mainly on nationally representative labor force surveys, with other sources (population censuses and nationally reported estimates) used only when no survey data are available.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Classification

Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators

Sub-Topic: Labor force structure