What to study in South Africa based on job demand in 2026
The field with the most open jobs in South Africa is Sales, and the best paid is Sales. Below, what to study to get into each one.
Data from jobs posted on Saplic as of September 29, 2026. They show what's being sought today, not what will happen in five years.
Fields in highest demand
| Field | Jobs | % of total | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 50 | 13% | R25,000 |
| Maintenance and Technical Repairs | 29 | 8% | — |
| Administration and Office | 23 | 6% | — |
| Production, Operations and Manufacturing | 17 | 5% | — |
| Heavy Cargo Handling and Transport | 15 | 4% | — |
| Human Resources | 13 | 3% | — |
| Teaching | 11 | 3% | — |
| Medicine and Health | 8 | 2% | — |
| Customer Service and Call Center | 6 | 2% | — |
| Accounting and Finance | 6 | 2% | — |
Degrees with the best prospects
| Degree or training | Level |
|---|---|
| Sales Jobs: 50 | |
| Bachelor in Marketing | University |
| Sales Technician | Technical |
| Sales Advisor | Trade |
| Account Management | Technical |
| Maintenance and Technical Repairs Jobs: 29 | |
| Electrical Technician | Technical |
| HVAC Technician | Technical |
| Automotive Mechanics | Trade |
| Industrial Electronics | Technical |
| Administration and Office Jobs: 23 | |
| Business Administration | University |
| Administration Technician | Technical |
| Executive Secretarial Studies | Technical |
| Administrative Assistant | Trade |
| Production, Operations and Manufacturing Jobs: 17 | |
| Production Engineering | University |
| Industrial Process Technician | Technical |
| Manufacturing Operator | Trade |
| Industrial Garment Making | Trade |
| Heavy Cargo Handling and Transport Jobs: 15 | |
| Logistics Technician | Technical |
| Heavy Vehicle License | Trade |
| Logistics Engineering | University |
| Forklift Operator | Trade |
| Human Resources Jobs: 13 | |
| Psychology | University |
| Bachelor in Human Resources | University |
| Personnel Management Technician | Technical |
| Payroll Specialist | Technical |
Careers without a university degree
Fields where most listings don't require a university degree, with the short courses they do ask for.
Best-paid fields
| Field | Median salary | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | R25,000 | 50 |
How to read these figures
These numbers show what's being sought TODAY in South Africa, not what will be needed when you finish studying. They're useful for ruling things out: if a field has three open jobs in the whole country, that fact is worth more than any degree ranking.
Demand and pay don't go together. The fields with the most jobs tend to be the ones with the highest turnover, and the best-paid ones tend to have few openings and require experience. Look at both tables before deciding: the sweet spot is almost always where they overlap.
If you're not going to university, start with the short courses in the block above and look for an entry-level position in that field. In most industries, two years of real work count for more than a degree that isn't used.
Frequently asked questions
What should I study in South Africa?
Based on today's open jobs, the field in highest demand is Sales. But it's worth also looking at each field's median salary and how many listings require a degree: that's what the two tables on this page are for.
Which degree has the best job prospects?
The ones that lead to the fields with the most open jobs. In South Africa, today that's Sales. The degrees block lists the typical training for each of the most in-demand fields.
Can I work without a university degree?
Yes. A significant share of listings don't require a university degree: they ask for a technical qualification, completed secondary education or nothing at all. The block on careers without a degree shows which fields that happens in.
Which field pays best in South Africa?
Among the fields with enough listings stating a salary, the one with the highest median is Sales. It's the median of what listings publish, not a market average.
Are these official figures?
No. They come from the jobs posted on Saplic and show what companies are looking for on this platform. They're a demand signal, not a national statistic.
Create your free profile
Create your profile and get alerts for the field you chose, without searching every day.
Create my profile