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Revealed: The average salary earned in South Africa – it’s gone up
Despite what lies ahead of us, the latest figures from StatsSA reveal that the average wage for workers in South Africa has increased in 2020.
Photo: Pixabay
If 2020 was an eTV movie, it would be Anaconda: People have had enough of it and there’s no need for it to carry on. We have gone through the mill this year, so it’s something of a surprise that the average wage has risen in South Africa.
What is the average wage in South Africa?
The most recent data issued for this year shows a fractional increase on a quarterly basis and there’s even a jump of almost 5% on a yearly axis. But these gains are likely to be hampered going forward, due to the impact of load shedding and global health issues. The facts from StatsSA read as follows:
- The average wage for a worker in South Africa is R22 500 per month
- In the previous quarter, that figure was R22 375. The previous year was R21 540
- Average monthly earnings paid to employees in the formal non-agricultural sector increased by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter and 4.5% year-on-year.
- Gross earnings paid to employees increased by R52.3 billion or 7.2% from R724.1 billion to R776.4 billion in the last quarter.
- Total employment increased by 16 000 or 0,2% quarter-on-quarter, from 10 197 000 to 10 213 000 during that time
The truth about our earnings
For some, this will be a crumb of comfort. For others, it won’t mean a great deal. Few people in South Africa earn the average salary, due to the extreme chasm in wage inequality. The highest earners are raking it in, whereas a majority of workers can only aspire to reach a figure above the R20 000 mark.
There was also some rosy data for employment. Although full-time figures dropped by the barest of margins, more part-time workers have entered the jobs market. But sadly, a storm will be coming over the horizon.
“Full-time employment decreased by a marginal figure of 2 000 quarter-on-quarter, from 9 164 000 to 9 162 000. Meanwhile, part-time employment increased by 18 000 or 1.7% quarter-on-quarter, from 1 033 000 to 1 051 000 in the previous quarter.”
StatsSA
Average monthly earnings were measured at R22 500 in the formal non-agricultural sector of the economy in November 2019. This is a 0,6% increase compared with August 2019, and an annual increase of 4,5%.
— Stats SA (@StatsSA) March 31, 2020
Read more here: https://t.co/ga4Tyri9wF#StatsSA #employment pic.twitter.com/jEDy9vC2jg
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