The gender pay gap in South Africa not only persists but grows wider as employees age. According to Statistics SA’s Monthly Earnings in South Africa 2017-2022 report, women aged between 35 and 44 had median monthly earnings of R5,000 in 2022. This is R1,400 less than their male counterparts, whose median earnings were R6,400.

For women aged 45 to 54, the gap widened to R2,600, with women earning R4,900 compared with R7,500 for men. Among employees aged 55 to 64, the disparity was even greater: women earned a median of R5,500 a month, while men earned R9,000 – a difference of R3,500.

Despite earning more than younger women, women in the oldest age group were out-earned by men in all age groups except the two youngest (15- to 34-year-olds). This trend highlights the unequal value placed on experience and seniority between the sexes, with men seeing greater financial rewards as they age.