Top 30: The Most In-Demand Jobs in South Africa


  1. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER

Job description: South Africa’s supply chain is a delicate industry made up of companies that require skilled candidates to oversee all elements of movement––from distribution to storage––of their materials and products. These highly in-demand positions are vital for the health of local, national, and global markets, which is why they remain so popular. 


2.TRANSLATOR

Job description: Language skills are some of the easiest to learn, which is why multi-lingual candidates are so valued. An important job in just about any industry where international business connections are developed and nurtured, translators are pivotal to many of South Africa’s businesses and are in very high demand.


3.SOFTWARE ENG

Job description: Universal demand for software engineers and architects has grown consistently since the early 2000s. And that growth is also prevalent today in South Africa, where such jobs typically feature flexible schedules and


4.AGRICULTURAL ENG

Job description: Given South Africa’s lush landscape, naturally rich resources, and opportunities for creating more sustainable farming, agriculture is a booming industry. And the key players involved with this movement are the engineers. These relatively new job titles have been steadily growing in popularity.


5.DATA SCIENTIST

Job description: Using machine learning technologies to organize information for start-ups and other firms, a Data Scientist is a key player in any organization. A Data Scientist collects and examines information, analyzing it to make sense of it all. Other tasks include examining the correct data sets or variables, collecting large data sets, and looking at patterns and trends. 


6.ACCOUNTANT

Job description: Accountants work for clients on just about everything accounting-related, including providing tax advice, payroll, and financial accounting assistance. Accountants can work independently or within established financial institutions.


7.HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGER

Job description: Companies employ these types of supervisory positions to protect their staff while ensuring that national workplace safety laws are maintained and enforced. As businesses grow across South Africa, this type of important role will always be in-demand.


8.LAWYER

Job description: Lawyers provide a necessary service to people in need. And the more experienced and knowledgeable a lawyer is, the more they tend to earn. Attorneys who specialize in criminal law, reading wills, buying/selling a property, or putting together contracts are in high demand because of the importance of the work involved.


9.STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Job description: There are many different types of engineering work available throughout South Africa, but one of the most in-demand opportunities is in the infrastructure sector. Because of Africa’s rich natural resources and multi-layered landscape, structural engineers need to be on hand to oversee developments at the building of power plants, hydroelectric dams, highways, and bridges.


10.NURSE

Job description: Becoming a medical professional is a strong vocation that requires extensive schooling and practice. Many hospitals across South Africa were short-staffed during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the creation of many privately run healthcare facilities. Today, both private and public facilities need nurses from all areas of specialization.  


11.FRONT ENF DEV

Job description: Jobs for talented web developers have become more readily available in South Africa since the early tech boom. With this growth forecasting to rise, tech-savvy candidates with strong software and computer skills are consistently valued and will likely continue to be popular and sought-after positions.


12.OFFICE ADMIN

Job description: Office Administrators require many different skills, mostly organizational and communication. These key players contribute to a company’s overall structure and can include responsibilities like hiring new staff, departmental training, and overall business coordination. Office Administrator roles are very in-demand.


13.PROOFREADER

Job description: A versatile career opportunity in just about any industry, proofreaders are responsible for identifying and correcting inaccuracies and issues in internal and consumer-facing documents. What an audience thinks of the professionalism of a small business is often down to a proofreader. And because a lot of language proficiency falls onto their shoulders, they are usually well-paid. 



14.INVESTMENT ADVISOR

Job description: South Africa is experiencing a boom in high finance jobs, specifically investment advisor roles, now that the markets have rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic. Candidates with strong number-crunching skills who can fill in the gaps for their existing clients are in high demand.  


15.HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

Job description: Despite the debilitating challenges faced by many secondary school teachers in South Africa, especially those from more remote towns trying to work virtually through a pandemic, the demand for new educators is always in demand, and teachers of children are some of the most popular and appreciated jobs in the country.


16 CALL CENTRE SPECIALIST

Job description: Some people have a natural gift for connecting with others and know just the right words to say to sway their decision-making. Call Center Specialists are heavily in demand throughout South Africa for this very reason they help expedite sales, resolve conflicts, and serve as the consumer face of a company. 


17.CREDIT MANAGER

Job description: Number-crunching and interpersonal skills are typically at the top of the list of requirements for Credit Managers, as they are responsible for optimizing sales while overseeing the credit-granting process of a company. The roles are demanding, but they are also well-paid and in high demand across South Africa. 


18.CIVIL ENGINEER

Job description: These highly in-demand positions require dedicated and skilled candidates to design, plan, develop, and manage construction projects throughout the country––whether it’s the repair of roads, buildings, and railways, or the maintenance of canals, bridges, and coastal systems. Given South Africa’s rural and urban landscapes, these roles remain popular. 


19.MANUFACTURING MANAGER

Job description: The skills required of a Manufacturing or Operations Manager involve construction, planning, strategy, alignment, and customer service––many of which can be easily learned through basic training. And this is perhaps why there is demand for such manufacturing roles throughout South Africa


20.E-COMMERCE MANAGER

Job description: As businesses and consumers in South Africa continue to shift towards online shopping, the need for e-commerce specialists, especially at the mid-senior level, remains extremely high. 


21.HOSPITAL ADMIN

Job description: Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers tend to get much of the (deserved) praise, but hospital administrators ensure that healthcare facilities operate smoothly and efficiently so that everybody in need receives help on time. Their roles are heavily important and are very much in demand across South Africa.

22.DATA ANALYST

Job description: Combining high-level encryption and computer science skills, plus extensive math skills used for uncovering answers to questions that help major organizations deliver objective decisions to their base, data analyst roles in South Africa are becoming more and more valuable. Best of all, the skills are transferrable, and the jobs pay great money.


23.PILOT

Job description: Pilots are some of the most in-demand positions anywhere in Africa. Commercial airline pilots who fly to international destinations are typically paid more than continental or local-haul pilots, but the training required for all flights is the same. 

24.INFORMATION TECH MANAGER


Job description: Information Technology (IT) Managers specialize in the deployment and project design of various solutions affecting online areas of a business. These roles also involve organizing structure, setting up departments, and defining policy and procedure.

25 .GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Job description: Companies with products or services to sell often need to get their information out to customers using memorable and visually appealing methods. This is where a Graphic Designer usually comes in to save the day. These positions are filled by those with great creative flair, physical and computer design skills, and a solid portfolio of powerful work.


26.JAVA DEVELOPER

Job description: In this digital age, being able to write technical computer languages like Java is one of the most valued skills one can have. Qualified and talented Java Developers are in high demand in South Africa because they use their programming language abilities to design and develop applications and sites. 

27.TELEMARKETER


Job description: Countless businesses across South Africa require telemarketers to help grow their physical and online sales figures. Telemarketer jobs are highly popular because of the numerous perks, which typically include good pay, remote work opportunities, and provided training. 

28.BROKER

Job description: Brokers are responsible for overseeing the investment portfolios of clients. They use market research and trends to advise clients (individuals or corporations) on how to best manage their money. 


29 . customer support

Job description: Resolving customer issues and complaints takes a strong amount of analytical and communication skills––not to mention being a dedicated people person. Customer support may not be for everyone, but the work is rewarding, and South Africa has many specialist roles available. 

30- content creator

Job description: Content creators are performers, editors, and writers who have extensive SEO experience and just happen to be very sought after based on a particular point of interest. Whether creating shoppable videos on TikTok and YouTube, posting valuable live streams on Instagram, or hosting your own podcast, if you can attract an audience and encourage them to engage with you, you can make good money.