Salaries for professionals across South Africa are set to increase by 7% on average in 2019, according to research from Robert Walters.

Top performing professionals with highly sought-after skill sets can expect to see rises of 10%-15%.

Professionals in leadership roles within the legal and finance sector could see expected salaries of up to ZAR 3 million (USD 200,000)

“It will be another challenging year for the South African economy in 2019, as the pending election will bring about some level of uncertainty leading foreign firms to take a cautious approach to investing in the country,” said Nic Sephton-Poultney, Robert Walters South Africa MD.

South Africa’s general elections will take place on 8 May 2019.

“We expect that organisations will take a careful approach to growth and hiring strategies. Professionals with a combination of strong technical skills and industry experience will remain sought after in the private sector,” Sephton-Poultney said.

“With competition for professionals extremely high, securing top talent will require employers to operate swift hiring processes, as well as offering clearly defined career paths and opportunities to satisfy the needs of employees seeking both reassurance and variety,” Sephton-Poultney said.