Construction report: Civil engineering leads with R58.9bn growth between 2020 – 2024

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10-07-2026
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Property Wheel
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The construction industry’s total income in 2024 reached R605.6 billion, an annualised 8.9% increase versus the R430.8 billion reported in Stats SA’s 2020 Construction Industry report.

The largest increases between 2020 to 2024 were in construction of civil engineering structures (+R58.9bn), construction of buildings (+R33.6bn) and other building completions (+R24.1bn).

Between 2014 and 2024, the industry recorded its highest profit margin in 2024 at 4.8%. By activity, site preparation posted the highest margin in 2024 (13.2%), followed by renting of construction/demolition equipment with operators (8.6%) and painting/decorating (6.3%).

Total employment in the construction industry at the end of June 2024 was 539 056, up at an annualised rate of 3% from 479 071 in the 2020 survey. The largest workforces in 2024 were in construction of buildings (139 326; 25.8%), construction of civil engineering structures (124 988; 23.2%) and other building completions (91 785; 17%).

Employment rose from 500 452 in 2014 to 539 056 in 2024 with the biggest gains in other building completions (+36 614) and construction of buildings (+29 998), while the largest declines occurred in construction of civil engineering structures (-40 594) and construction of other structures (-1 639). Employment peaked in 2017 at 592 125.

Average salaries and wages in 2024 were R171 136. By activity, site preparation paid the most (R292 214), followed by other building installation (R260 197), construction of civil engineering structures (R212 404) and renting of construction/demolition equipment with operators (R211 917). The lowest average was in construction of other structures (R94 370).

Average pay rose from R150 541 in 2020 to R171 316 in 2024, an annualised increase of 3,3%; the fastest annualised growth over the decade occurred between 2014 and 2017 (3,6%).

By province, Gauteng generated the largest share of construction income in 2024 at R203 billion (35,3% of total income from services rendered), followed by Western Cape (R136,5 billion; 23,8%) and KwaZulu‑Natal (R87,5 billion; 15,3%). Gauteng also employed the most people (141 043; 26,1%), then Western Cape (115 973; 21,5%) and KwaZulu‑Natal (107 291; 19,9%).