Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals in South Africa

South Africa: Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals was 0.0133 compared to formal wage employees in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
0.0133 compared to formal wage employees
Change on year
down 89.5%
World rank
24th
of 52 countries
All-time high
0.1265 compared to formal wage employees
in 2018
All-time low
-0.2294 compared to formal wage employees
in 2000
Years of data
10
2000–2019

Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals in South Africa, 2000–2019

-0.2-0.1-00.12000200920192000: -0.229 compared to formal wage employees2001: -0.149 compared to formal wage employees2003: -0.177 compared to formal wage employees2010: -0.029 compared to formal wage employees2012: 0.057 compared to formal wage employees2013: 0.059 compared to formal wage employees2015: -0.089 compared to formal wage employees2016: -0.038 compared to formal wage employees2018: 0.127 compared to formal wage employees2019: 0.013 compared to formal wage employees

Source: World Bank. Measured in compared to formal wage employees.

Analysis

In 2019, public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals in South Africa stood at 0.0133 compared to formal wage employees.

The figure is down 89.5% on the previous year and up 146.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals in South Africa peaked at 0.1265 compared to formal wage employees in 2018 and was at its lowest, -0.2294 compared to formal wage employees, in 2000.

That places South Africa 24th out of 52 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals (compared to formal wage employees) in South Africa, 2000 to 2019.
Year compared to formal wage employees Change
2000 -0.2294 compared to formal wage employees
2001 -0.1488 compared to formal wage employees -35.1%
2003 -0.1768 compared to formal wage employees +18.8%
2010 -0.0289 compared to formal wage employees -83.7%
2012 0.0574 compared to formal wage employees -298.8%
2013 0.0586 compared to formal wage employees +2.2%
2015 -0.0891 compared to formal wage employees -252.0%
2016 -0.0381 compared to formal wage employees -57.3%
2018 0.1265 compared to formal wage employees -432.5%
2019 0.0133 compared to formal wage employees -89.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s -0.185 compared to formal wage employees -0.2294 compared to formal wage employees -0.1488 compared to formal wage employees 3
2010s 0.0143 compared to formal wage employees -0.0891 compared to formal wage employees 0.1265 compared to formal wage employees 7

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 21 Brazil 0.0247 compared to formal wage employees compare
  2. 22 Estonia 0.0178 compared to formal wage employees compare
  3. 23 Cyprus 0.0149 compared to formal wage employees compare
  4. 25 Malta -0.015 compared to formal wage employees compare
  5. 26 Switzerland -0.0208 compared to formal wage employees compare
  6. 27 Romania -0.025 compared to formal wage employees compare

See the full ranking of 52 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals in South Africa?
Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals in South Africa was 0.0133 compared to formal wage employees in 2019, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 0.1265 compared to formal wage employees in 2018.
What is the lowest public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -0.2294 compared to formal wage employees in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals?
South Africa ranks 24th out of 52 countries with data for 2019.
Is public sector wage premium, by occupational group: professionals rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 146.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals (compared to formal wage employees). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals in South Africa. Statizoid. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/public-sector-wage-premium-by-occupational-group-professionals-compared-to-formal-wage/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Public sector wage premium, by occupational group: Professionals (compared to formal wage employees)
Unit
compared to formal wage employees
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
52 places, 604 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed