Which careers are in demand in South Africa?

Health workers like doctors and nurses, engineers, IT and cybersecurity specialists, and the skilled trades like electricians and plumbers are all in strong demand. This page ranks the in-demand careers in our guides by pay.

What are the scarce skills in South Africa?

Scarce skills are jobs the country does not have enough workers for. They often include health, engineering, IT, and artisan trades. Government updates a scarce-skills list from time to time, so treat this as a guide and check each career.

Which in-demand careers pay the most?

Among in-demand careers, doctors, cybersecurity specialists and engineers pay the most. The list on this page is sorted with the best pay first.

Are trades in demand in South Africa?

Yes. Electricians, plumbers and other artisans are in steady demand, and you can earn while you learn through a learnership or apprenticeship. See each trade's guide for the route.

Will these careers still be in demand in the future?

Health, engineering, IT and the trades are expected to stay in demand for years. Demand can still change, so pick a career you also enjoy, not only one that is in demand today.

Where can I find the official scarce skills list?

The Department of Employment and Labour publishes a scarce skills list, and government publishes a National List of Occupations in High Demand. These are updated from time to time. This page turns those trends into careers you can actually study for, with the route for each.

Careers in Demand in South Africa (2026)

Some careers are easier to find a job in, because South Africa needs more of these workers. This list shows the careers in our guides with strong demand right now, best pay first. Each one links to a full guide with what to study, where, and how to pay for it.

Demand can change over time, and the government updates its scarce-skills list now and then. Use this as a starting point, then read each career for the real picture.

1
Doctor
Health & social servicesIn demand
Degree · from R 40 000/mo
R 90 000
median /mo
2
Cybersecurity specialist
Technology & ITIn demand
Degree · from R 30 000/mo
R 70 000
median /mo
3
Engineer
Engineering & technologyIn demand
Degree · from R 35 000/mo
R 65 000
median /mo
4
Psychologist
Health & social servicesIn demand
Degree · from R 40 000/mo
R 60 000
median /mo
5
Accountant
Business & financeIn demand
Degree · from R 25 000/mo
R 55 000
median /mo
6
Software developer
Technology & ITIn demand
Degree · from R 25 000/mo
R 55 000
median /mo
7
Real estate agent
Property & real estateIn demand
Learnership or trade · from R 12 000/mo
R 35 000
median /mo
8
Nurse
Health & social servicesIn demand
Degree · from R 22 000/mo
R 33 000
median /mo
9
Social worker
Health & social servicesIn demand
Degree · from R 24 000/mo
R 32 000
median /mo
10
Paramedic
Health & social servicesIn demand
Higher certificate · from R 18 000/mo
R 32 000
median /mo
11
Electrician
Trades & artisansIn demand
Learnership or trade · from R 12 000/mo
R 25 000
median /mo
12
Plumber
Trades & artisansIn demand
Learnership or trade · from R 12 000/mo
R 25 000
median /mo

How we choose these. We mark a career as in demand when there is strong, steady need for workers, based on employment trends and scarce-skills reporting. Open any career to see more.

Questions people ask

Take the quiz, work out your marks, and find where to study.

Careers

Careers in demand in South Africa

Doctor

Cybersecurity specialist

Engineer

Psychologist

Accountant

Software developer

Real estate agent

Nurse

Social worker

Paramedic

Electrician

Plumber

Questions people ask

Related

What to study after matric

Career guides

Career quiz

Careers in demand in South Africa

Doctor

Cybersecurity specialist

Engineer

Psychologist

Accountant

Software developer

Real estate agent

Nurse

Social worker

Paramedic

Electrician

Plumber

Questions people ask

Which careers are in demand in South Africa?+

What are the scarce skills in South Africa?+

Which in-demand careers pay the most?+

Are trades in demand in South Africa?+

Will these careers still be in demand in the future?+

Where can I find the official scarce skills list?+

Related

What to study after matric

Career guides

Career quiz