Labour force participation rate, South Africa

59.6% in Q2 2026

54.0%56.0%58.0%60.0%62.0%Q1 2020: 59.2%59.2%Q2 2020: 55.7%Q3 2020: 56.4%Q4 2020: 58.1%Q1 2021: 57.9%Q2 2021: 58.8%Q3 2021: 59.3%Q4 2021: 59.7%Q1 2022: 60.1%Q2 2022: 59.8%Q3 2022: 60.2%Q4 2022: 60.4%Q1 2023: 59.9%Q2 2023: 60.1%Q3 2023: 60.3%Q4 2023: 60.5%Q1 2024: 60.7%60.7%Q2 2024: 60.6%Q3 2024: 60.2%Q4 2024: 60.3%Q1 2025: 60.0%Q2 2025: 60.2%Q3 2025: 59.7%Q4 2025: 59.3%Q1 2026: 59.0%Q2 2026: 59.6%59.6%Q1 2020Q2 2026
54.0%56.0%58.0%60.0%62.0%Q1 2020: 59.2%59.2%Q2 2020: 55.7%Q3 2020: 56.4%Q4 2020: 58.1%Q1 2021: 57.9%Q2 2021: 58.8%Q3 2021: 59.3%Q4 2021: 59.7%Q1 2022: 60.1%Q2 2022: 59.8%Q3 2022: 60.2%Q4 2022: 60.4%Q1 2023: 59.9%Q2 2023: 60.1%Q3 2023: 60.3%Q4 2023: 60.5%Q1 2024: 60.7%60.7%Q2 2024: 60.6%Q3 2024: 60.2%Q4 2024: 60.3%Q1 2025: 60.0%Q2 2025: 60.2%Q3 2025: 59.7%Q4 2025: 59.3%Q1 2026: 59.0%Q2 2026: 59.6%59.6%Q1 2020Q2 2026
Labour force participation rate, every value
PeriodValue
Q1 202059.2%
Q2 202055.7%
Q3 202056.4%
Q4 202058.1%
Q1 202157.9%
Q2 202158.8%
Q3 202159.3%
Q4 202159.7%
Q1 202260.1%
Q2 202259.8%
Q3 202260.2%
Q4 202260.4%
Q1 202359.9%
Q2 202360.1%
Q3 202360.3%
Q4 202360.5%
Q1 202460.7%
Q2 202460.6%
Q3 202460.2%
Q4 202460.3%
Q1 202560.0%
Q2 202560.2%
Q3 202559.7%
Q4 202559.3%
Q1 202659.0%
Q2 202659.6%

Source: Statistics South Africa, Quarterly Labour Force Survey Q2 2026, released 11 August 2026. Data and citation on SA Data Hub