The majority (57%) of sub-Saharan professionals received a salary increase in the last 12 months and, despite the economic downturn, 41% received a bonus.
This month the sector that saw the highest average salaries was not the private sector, but the charity/not for profit sector, according to the latest salary guide from The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) in partnership with recruiting experts Hays Procurement.
The survey shows that men earn more than women at more senior levels, especially at advanced professional level where the pay gap is a massive 26%.
However, in sub-Saharan Africa – unlike the UK and in line with last year – women tend to earn more than men at managerial, operational and tactical levels.
More than 4 000 global procurement professionals contributed to the salary guide, that benchmarks salaries and bonuses for different roles and profiles, and offers insight into career paths in procurement for permanent and interim contracts and across sectors.
Since last year’s survey, the world has experienced a number of extreme socio-political and economic changes as supply chains are threatened by protectionist and nationalistic movements around the world.
With threats from possible tariffs on cross-border trading, rising inflation and falling sterling, procurement talent is in demand more than ever before as a higher number of jobs are registered across public and private sectors and the value of MCIPS professionals translated into higher salaries.
Flexible working, which features strongly in the UK and Australia, does not make it into the top five in sub-Saharan Africa at just 18%, although this is an increase of 2% compared to the previous year.
Pensions were the benefit most likely to be receive, with other benefits including private medical insurance (41%); death in service benefit (28%); free mobile (23%).
A high 48% of those surveyed reported that they struggled to recruit the right talent in procurement staff in the last 12 months. These struggles included budget restraints, candidate expectations and a lack of sector skills and experience.
Communication and soft skills were seen as crucial in job performance (75-89%) and could be seen as a reflection of how the profession has developed in the region in recent years.
Andre Coetzee, MD of CIPS Africa says: “I am delighted to see a rise in the perceived value of procurement in the region in the public and private sector. CIPS has been working hard with a number of partners and members to raise the profile of this most important of professions.
“With risk on the increase around the world, major legislative changes from ethical to economic, and in countries as part of this global supply chain we all rely on, will impact. Procurement professionals have become the guardians of the enterprise to advise businesses on a range of issues.
“Once again, the value ofMCIPS offers rewards and returns in equal measure as procurement managers earn on average, significantly more than non-members and are highly sought-after. It’s a testament to our members for their expertise, dedication and I hope, commitment to keep their skills up to date which will mean even more demand for their skills in the coming years.”
Scott Dance, director of Hays Procurement and Supply Chain, comments: “Fifty percent of employees plan to leave their jobs in the next two years and 71% want to progress to more senior roles. That’s quite a lot of movement in a short space of time and, with a shortage of talent, we need to address the gap this type of movement creates.
“Additionally, there is also continued development in the technological side of procurement, with investment in more sophisticated sourcing tools becoming prevalent. Candidates with the right mix of technical and soft skills are therefore in high demand. Skills shortages are still affecting many organisations as demand outstrips supply in many areas of procurement.”