The most in-demand jobs in South Africa right now
Jobs portal CareerJunction has revealed a list of jobs that have shown growth in hiring activity over the past three months.
The group’s latest Employment Insights Report showed that there had been a slight uptick in hiring activity, especially for Admin, Office & Support, Sales, and Finance personnel in March 2023
According to Career Junction, there has been a 2% year-on-year increase in hiring activity from March 2022 to March 2023 and a 7% increase in recruitment activity in the past month.
The group added that there have also been positive developments for Building & Construction and Warehousing & Logistics staff and Legal professionals.
The group’s analysis was conducted on a sample of 5,000 of South Africa’s top recruiters, agencies, and employers posting job vacancies on the website. The model is used to draw conclusions about the job market in South Africa.
Career Junction reported significant hiring activity in the following industries, with particular demand for the listed positions:
Admin, Office and Support (+15%)
- Personal assistant
- Switchboard/ Reception
- Teller/ cashier
- Admin clerk
- Secretary
- Human resources
- Health, safety and environment
- Client/ customer support
Sales (+12%)
- Telesales/ telemarketing
- Representative/ sales consulting
- Account management
Finance (+4%)
- Purchasing and procurement
- Cost and management accounting
- Accounts payable. receivable
- Bookkeeping
- Internal auditing
- Payroll and wages
- Financial/ project accounting
CareerJunction noted that there had been no significant decline in hiring activity for any sector across South Africa – an uncommon occurrence.
Regional employment trends
The jobs portal went into greater detail about job demand across the country, breaking down the most in-demand skills and job growth in each sector by province.
Gauteng
Gauteng has the highest economic activity and has seen the most significant demand for IT, Finance and Business & Managment professionals, CareerJunction noted.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Business and Management (+16%)
- Middle/Department management
- Senior management
Finance (+16%)
- Financial/ Project Accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Accounts payable/ receivable
Information Technology (+16%)
- Software development
- Systems/ network administration
- Data analysis/ data warehousing
KwaZulu-Natal
After Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is the second-largest economy in South Africa. It is dominated by significant sectors such as Trade, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Business Services.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Sales (+10%)
- Representative/ sales consulting
- Account management
- Retail
Finance (+15%)
- Financial/ project accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Accounts payable/ receivable
- Purchasing and procurement
Business and management (+19%)
- Middle/ department management
- Senior management
- Team leader and supervisor
Western Cape
Following KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape is the third-largest contributor to South Africa’s GDP. The economic activity in the province is mainly centred around the Cape Town region.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Business and management (+15%)
- Middle/ department management
- Senior management
- Team leader and supervisor
Information Technology (+17%)
- Software development
- Systems/ network administration
- Business analysis
- Data analysis/ data warehousing
Finance (+18%)
- Financial/ project accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Accounts payable/ receivable
Eastern Cape
The Agriculture and Manufacturing sectors represent the majority of the Eastern Cape’s economic activity.
The Automotive industry has a significant impact on the province’s manufacturing activities and related sectors.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Information Technology (+11%)
- Software development
- Systems/ network administration
Finance (+13%)
- Financial/ project accounting
- Bookkeeping
Business and management (+17%)
- Middle/ department management
- Senior management
- Team leader and supervisor
Mpumalanga
CareerJunction noted that Mpumalanga’s top sectors include Manufacturing, Mining, and Agriculture; however, power generation has had a significant impact on the province’s economy.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Sales (+11%)
- Representative/ sales consulting
Admin, Office and Support (+12%)
- Admin clerk
- Teller/ cashier
- Human resources
Business and management (+17%)
- Middle/ department management
- Senior management
- Team leader and supervisor
Limpopo
During the first three months of 2023, there has been significant recruitment activity for Business & Management professionals, Admin, Office & Support professionals, and Building & Construction professionals in Limpopo, said Career Junction.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Building and construction (+11%)
- Building project management
Admin, office and support (+12%)
- Teller/ cashier
- Admin clerk
- Health, safety and environment
Business and management (+19%)
- Middle/ department management
- Team leader and supervisor
- Senior management
North West
“In the first quarter of 2023, 36% of the North West’s hiring activity was allocated to Business & Management, Finance and Sales professionals.”
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Sales (+9%)
- Representative/ sales consulting
Finance (+10%)
- Financial/ project accounting
Business and management (+17%)
- Middle/ department management
- Senior management
- Team leader and supervisor
Free State
During the first quarter of 2023, 33% of the hiring activity was concentrated in the Sales and Finance sectors, while 18% of recruitment activity was targeted towards Business & Management professionals.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Finance (+11%)
- Financial/ project accounting
Sales (+12%)
- Representative/ sales consulting
Business and management (+18%)
- Middle/ department management senior management
Northern Cape
CareerJunction said that Mining and Agriculture are the primary sectors in the Northern Cape, focusing on diamond, metal ore, and manganese mining.
In the first quarter of 2023, the hiring activity in the province was driven by the demand for Business & Management and Admin, Office & Support professionals, and Building & Construction professionals.
The most in-demand employment sectors in the province include:
Building and construction (+9%)
- Building project management
Admin, office and support (+11%)
- Admin clerk
Business and management (+18%)
- Middle/ department management senior management
Loading ...
