Real estate, activities auxiliary to financial intermediation and business services industry, 2024

Total income between 2020 (R1 401,2 billion) and 2024 (R1 843,4 billion) increased by 31,6%, according to data from Statistics South Africa.

This translates to an increase of R442,2 billion. The largest increase was reported for ‘activities auxiliary to financial intermediation’ (+R88,3 billion), followed by ‘real estate activities’ (+R84,4 billion), ‘business and management consultancy activities’ (+R60,8 billion) and ‘computer related activities’ (+R52,3 billion).

The survey covered enterprises on the value-added tax (VAT) database with real estate, activities auxiliary to financial intermediation and business services as their primary or main activity.

Profit margin recovers from a single digit (5,5%) increase in 2020 to 12,2% in 2024

The profit margin in 2016 was 14,0%. In 2024, ‘real estate activities’ had the highest profit margin at 31,0%, followed by ‘activities auxiliary to financial intermediation’ (17,7%) and ‘legal activities’ (16,9%).

The industry employed 146 000 more people

The total number of persons employed increased by 7,8% between 2020 (1 884 000) and 2024 (2 030 000). The largest employment gains were recorded for ‘investigation and security activities’ (+71 000 jobs), ‘other business activities’ (+34 000 jobs), and ‘business and management consultancy activities’ (+22 000 jobs).

Capital expenditure between 2020 (R96,3 billion) and 2024 (R109,0 billion) increased by 13,1%.

In 2024, the largest contributor to capital expenditure on new assets was ‘real estate activities’
(R33,5 billion or 31,0%), followed by ‘computer related activities’ (R21,3 billion or 19,5%) and ‘renting of machinery and equipment without operator; renting of personal and household goods’ (R14,2 billion or 13,0%).

Media enquiries:                                                      Technical enquiries:

Sivuyile Mangxamba                                               Itani Magwaba

Acting Chief Director: Communications               Chief Director: Structural Industry Statistics

SiyuyileMA@statssa.gov.za                                   ItaniM@statssa.gov.za

012 337 4732 / 082 888 2372                                012 337 6254 / 082 905 5143