Bad news for people wanting to work remotely in South Africa
The Remote Jobs Index 2026 revealed that South Africa has the lowest percentage of remote job listings in Africa, with only 17.6% of its LinkedIn job postings tagged as remote work.
The Remote Jobs Index 2026, conducted by Remitly, analysed approximately 7.8 million LinkedIn job listings in May 2026 to assess remote job availability and applicant competition worldwide.
The group indicated that of the world’s most attractive digital nomad destinations and economic powerhouses have surprisingly few remote job options.
This statistic positions South Africa at the forefront of the “least remote jobs” category on the continent, followed closely by Ghana (19.5%) and Egypt (21.8%).
In stark contrast, countries like Equatorial Guinea (98.5%), the Republic of the Congo (95.4%), Cape Verde (94.7%), and Sierra Leone (92.4%) show over 90% of their job listings classified as remote.
Despite this low percentage, the job market in South Africa is showing notable growth in remote work.
According to Pnet’s latest Job Market Trends Report, remote job opportunities surged by 28% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Overall, there has been a 41% increase in remote employment opportunities over the past two years.
This finding indicates that while the current remote job rate is low, there is significant upward momentum.
Pnet’s report argues that remote work has transitioned from being a temporary trend to an established part of South Africa’s labour market.
Initially popular in the technology sector, remote work is now expanding across various industries as businesses adapt to digitisation and changing workforce expectations.
The report highlights that remote positions have broadened beyond technology roles, attracting skilled employees from multiple sectors.
While Information Technology (IT) remains the largest source of remote job opportunities, other sectors are quickly catching up, with finance experiencing particularly rapid growth.
Remote opportunities in this field have increased more than fourfold since 2024.
Sectors such as Business & Management, Sales, and Admin, Office & Support are reflecting stronger growth trends towards hybrid and remote work.
While South Africa currently has a low proportion of remote job listings compared to other African nations, the market is rapidly evolving.
The rise of digital nomads
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has reported an increase in inquiries from remote workers looking to move to South Africa, particularly to Cape Town.
DHA Director of Corporate Accounts, Phindiwe Mbhele, said that most inquiries about the Remote Work Visa, which was introduced in October 2024, end with prospective applicants expressing a desire to live in “beautiful Cape Town.”
Mbhele said that Cape Town leading the list aligns with the trends observed by the Department regarding foreigners who wish to live and work in the Mother City.
Mbhele told Xpatweb Managing Director Marisa Jacobs that the reports give the DHA mileage in potentially attracting remote workers to South Africa.
The Department said it is involved in initiatives abroad to promote South Africa as a preferred tourist destination and an attractive remote work location for skilled professionals from other countries.
In collaboration with the Department of Tourism, the DHA participated in tours to India and China, aiming to attract more tourists from those countries.
Mbhele explained that an individual who works remotely while living in South Africa can also explore the country as a tourist.
The impact of this is significant, as they share their experiences with family and friends overseas, encouraging them to visit South Africa as well.
This creates a multiplier effect, boosting tourism and promoting the country’s attractions.
According to Polity, by 2025, there were an estimated 40 million digital nomads globally, with the number expected to reach 60 million by 2030.
LinkedIn estimated that in 2025, 10,000 of the world’s remote workers were working from South Africa.
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