This article has been supplied and will be available for a limited time only on this website. South African procurement and supply professionals are enjoying their strongest salary growth in years, but employers face mounting pressure to attract and retain skilled talent in an increasingly competitive market.
According to the latest Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Procurement & Supply Salary Guide 2026, the average salary increase for South African procurement professionals reached 10.2% over the past year, significantly outpacing the country's 3.2% inflation rate and exceeding the global average salary increase of 7.4%.
Despite these gains, organisations continue to face growing challenges in securing and retaining skilled professionals. More than half of South African respondents expect to look for a new employer within the next 12 months, highlighting the increasingly competitive nature of the procurement talent market.
The survey results also reflect a broader shift in how organisations view procurement, from a transactional function to a strategic business discipline. As global supply chains become more complex and interconnected, procurement teams are taking on greater responsibility for supplier resilience, technology adoption, sustainability, regulatory compliance and business continuity.
