Steering your way through the job market can be challenging and stressful, and you’ll face stiff competition because of South Africa’s high unemployment rate. Choosing the right career can be a job on its own – and deciding that you might be happier in a completely different type of work, after you’ve spent a few years moving along a certain career path, can be even more intimidating.

Start planning your career while you’re still at school. Find out what range of jobs are available in fields that interest you, and what qualifications you'll need. Is it the sort of work where an employer will hire you as a trainee with a matric certificate, and provide your further education and accreditation within the sector through on-the-job training? Or will you need a degree or diploma to get an entry-level job in the career that interests you? While you’re still at school, check if there are any hobby groups, clubs, extramural activities, or intern programmes available that would be good preparation for your chosen career – and would allow you to experience the realities of the job before you commit to that sector.

This process can help you identify the kind of job that would suit you, but they won’t tell you if the career is a good long-term option. Digital evolution is changing the world of work at breathtaking speed, and some jobs simply may not exist in 10 or 20 years. On the other hand, the digital revolution is also creating new jobs every day, so if you’re interested in information technology (IT), you’ll have an increasing variety of prospective jobs to choose from.

Before you settle on your dream job, try to find out if there’s going to be a demand for those skills in the future. Many current career options are popular because they seem to be future-proof.

Popular careers in South Africa

• IT
  The growth in the digital tech sector is not likely to slow down anytime soon. Roles like software developers, data analysts, and cybersecurity specialists will remain essential as industries continue to embrace digital transformation.
  
  
• Healthcare
  Healthcare professionals – especially nurses, occupational therapists, and mental health counsellors – are crucial to addressing widespread health challenges.
  
  
• Engineering
  Civil, mechanical, chemical, and environmental engineers play vital roles in infrastructure development and sustainability.
  
  
• Finance
  Careers in accounting, economic management, and business development remain indispensable to our economic landscape.
  
  
• Renewable energy
  South Africa’s need for sustainable energy is creating increasing opportunities in concentrated solar, wind, solar PV, hydrogen, and hydroelectric energy.
  
  
• Skilled trades
  Electricians, welders, plumbers, mechanics, and other skilled artisans are consistently in demand, and training is traditionally through apprenticeships, so they offer stable career paths.

Considering a career change?

It’s scary to realise you’re in the wrong job. Sometimes, it happens after you’ve spent years building a career in a field that you suddenly realise you don’t find fulfilling anymore. Or you might have a flash of insight that the constant anxiety you feel at work, that you thought was just normal job stress, is in fact caused by your feelings towards the work itself.

Switching careers can be a way to start afresh and build a more personally satisfying work‑life balance in a new sector. But you’ll need to prepare properly first. Changing careers could cause a serious dip in your financial health that may take you years to recover.

• Skills assessment
  Identify your transferable skills, like problem solving or project management, that you can still apply in your new field.
  
  
• Further education
  You may need to upskill to move into a new industry. Short courses online or technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes can help you develop the skills to qualify in high-demand fields.
  
  
• Financial preparation
  Budget carefully for the costs of transitioning into a new career. For example, you might need to cover the costs of additional education, professional membership fees, or periods of reduced income while you’re still establishing yourself in your new job.

Future careers important to South Africa

Emerging industries are reshaping SA’s job market. The following are some of the careers most likely to thrive in the future:

• AI and machine learning – these technologies are crucial to the increasing automation in the processing and manufacturing sectors, among others.
  
  
• Agricultural technology – innovations in agriculture, like smart farming tech, can create unique opportunities to increase productivity while farming more sustainably.
  
  
• Renewable energy – solar PV, concentrated solar power, and wind energy are currently the mainstays of SA’s sustainable energy transition, but hydroelectric power, nuclear power and hydrogen fuel cells could also have an important role to play. Vertical-axis wind turbines, gravity batteries, and various designs to harvest the ocean’s power (through wave, tidal, or current moton) are not yet in widespread use, but as the efficiency and cost of these technologies continue to improve, they could open up even more skilled-employment opportunities.
  
  
• E-commerce – digital platforms are transforming retail, creating demand for digital marketing specialists and coordination managers.

Addressing challenges

Most South African job hunters face numerous challenges that they must overcome before they can even get an interview. These solutions may help:

• Accessing education
  Free online courses can help you build foundational skill, but you need funds for a formal qualification. Check if you qualify for funding by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. If not, apply for bursaries or scholarships offered by private enterprise (like the Nedbank Bursary Programme), or organisations like the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) for the sector you’re interested in.
  
  
• Gaining experience
  Look for internships, opportunities to volunteer, or contract jobs to build industry credibility.
  
  
• Networking effectively
  Interact with others in your field on platforms like LinkedIn and attend industry-specific events to expand your professional connections.

Success in SA’s job market takes strategic planning, adaptability, careful financial management, and resilience. If your career plan involves tertiary study, a Nedbank Student Loan could offer the financial support you need to reach your goal. If you already have a job, but you’re eager to develop new skills and switch to a new line of work, a Nedbank Personal Loan could help you afford the transition. In either situation, navigating your career path will be easier if you have savings and investments to draw on while you prepare for your new role.
 

Visit these sources for more information on educational funding and career opportunities:

• Unlocked.Me
• National Career Advice Portal
• SETA
• TVET Colleges
• SA Youth programmes
• Career Junction