Most in-demand jobs in South Africa

Engineering and nursing are two of the highest in-demand jobs in South Africa, with significant growth in recruitment activity reported in 2024.

This is according to Pnet’s head of data insights and customer success, Paul Byrne, whose comments come after the company released its December 2024 jobs trends report.

This report found that monthly job postings in South Africa had declined 10% month-on-month. 

However, recruitment activity grew by 18% year-on-year in the medical and health sector and 15% in the engineering and architecture sector. 

Byrne said engineering will remain in high demand due to the rise of green energy, renewable energy, robotics, AI, and mechatronics.

South Africa also faces a shortage of nurses, which is why Byrne suggests getting qualified as a nurse if people want to work in the medical field.

The other positions and jobs that had an increased demand for workers and professionals in December were:

• Secretary positions in office administration and support
• Graphic, print and packaging design in the media, design and art sector
• Team leader and supervision positions in business and management
• IT project administration and management
• Mechanical engineering in engineering and architecture

Byrne explained that the report lists job categories ranked by the level of skill typically expected and the level of experience required. 

People need to realise that their qualifications are the first step in a life of multiple careers and job titles, said Eduvos dean of curriculum and research Dr Miné de Klerk. 

While there were fewer job postings in December, the number of job postings over time has remained consistent, as shown in the graph below. 

Byrne explains that at the end of the year, many matriculants and graduates enter the workforce and fill those positions. 

Additionally, many people reflect on their lives over the festive period and may end up pursuing different job opportunities. 

De Klerk said that people must look for local and global challenges they can respond to and listen to in a changing world to set them apart from the competition in the labour market.

The world is changing due to the rise of new technologies, like AI, which is rapidly changing the job market and constantly creating new jobs. 

De Klerk said AI is a great equaliser because it levels the playing field globally, and the limits of its capabilities have not yet been reached. 

Thanks to this, companies will be looking for candidates who are innovative, analytical thinkers with empathy and communication skills for collaboration and who are lifelong learners over the next five years. 

People need to completely update their skills every five to seven years to adapt and stay current. De Klerk stressed that curiosity is critical and that curiosity must be encouraged. 

“In the future of work, or with future employers, people won’t be necessarily looking for the expert in the room. Rather, they will look for the person that can ask the right questions,” she said.

Additionally, Byrne said that no sector in South Africa guarantees employment. For example, even though there is a lot of recruiting activity in the medical and health field, many qualified health professionals are also unemployed.

However, Byrne expects unemployment to decline as consumers start spending more money based on more positive consumer sentiment. 

This is because companies will need to start employing more people again as sales and demand grow.

Job market activity in the engineering and architecture sector

The medical and health sector’s job market activity