Economic strain and job fears fuel workplace disengagement in South Africa A new Liberty and UCT study reveals that South Africans aged 35 to 55 are increasingly anxious about retirement, job security and rising living costs despite being in their highest earning years. The research shows financial resilience has overtaken wealth as the primary measure of success.
South Africans in their prime earning years are feeling increasingly financially vulnerable despite higher salaries, as the cost of raising families, supporting relatives, and preparing for retirement collides with growing economic uncertainty.
That is one of the key findings of "The Messy Middle: A focus on mid-careers 35 to 55," a new study by Liberty and the University of Cape Town's Liberty Institute of Strategic Marketing, which found that many mid-career professionals are redefining what financial success looks like.
Based on interviews with 43 professionals aged between 35 and 55 from a range of industries, supported by secondary research and academic literature, the report explores the aspirations, anxieties, and financial realities facing one of South Africa's most economically significant demographics.
The research shows that around 16 million South Africans fall within the 35 to 55 age group, with roughly one-third belonging to upper-income and affluent segments.
