Latest news with #AnjaBates
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
No degree? No problem: South Africa's top-paying jobs in 2025
Sometimes, you don't need that degree to have a top-paying job. Some of the highest offices in the country, even the presidency, are open to those without formal academic qualifications. And salaries in these fields range from R16 000 to over R260 000 per month, proving that ambition, skill, and experience can be just as valuable as a degree. Many South Africans never attend university due to financial limitations, low grades, or simply preferring hands-on careers. And in 2025, the job market is shifting further to embrace workers without higher education. Anja Bates, Head of Data Insights at Pnet, revealed that demand remains strong in areas like sales, administration, marketing, construction, and IT. In many of these roles, soft skills and real-world experience outweigh formal qualifications. 'We see many people who start out answering the phone or doing basic bookkeeping move into more high-powered roles in their companies,' Bates said. While it is true that more employers are no longer demanding degrees, Bates added that candidates still need to demonstrate their value. 'It is necessary for candidates to show that they have invested in developing their skills and expertise,' she said. From sales consultants and graphic designers to construction managers and politicians, the opportunities are vast. Below is a breakdown of 12 top-paying jobs, according to BusinessTech , that don't require a degree in South Africa, with average monthly salary ranges: Job Average monthly salary estimate (R) Politician 102 500 – 260 000 Pilot Captain 150 000 – 192 000 Software Developer 40 000 – 60 000 Data Analyst 40 000 – 60 000 Digital Marketing Manager 38 014 – 55 000 Construction Manager 39 000 – 53 400 Real Estate Agent 20 000 – 36 000 Electrical Technician 23 000 – 34 000 Graphic Designer 12 500 – 28 000 Personal Assistant 20 000 – 28 800 SEO Specialist 17 977 – 22 443 Sales Consultant 16 000 – 24 900 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Zawya
11-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
The top job sectors opening their doors to young South African workers
Do South African job seekers still face the age-old dilemma that you can't get a job unless you have experience, but you can't build experience until you land your first job? New data from the latest Pnet Job Market Trends Report suggest that the answer is yes but also shows that some sectors are more accommodating to early-career workers. Although the outlook remains tough for fresh talent, young workers who have tangible, proven skills or relevant certifications will have an edge in the competitive job market, says Anja Bates, head of data at leading South African online recruitment platform, Pnet. She says that a Pnet analysis shows that 10% of jobs are allocated to young jobseekers with limited work experience. Says Bates: 'Young people aged 15 to 34 make up roughly half of South Africa's working-age population, but they bear the brunt of the country's jobs crisis with an unemployment rate of 46%. Many young South Africans are qualified but not yet experienced – trapped in a cycle where they can't get experience because they don't already have it.' With South Africa celebrating Youth Day (16 June) and Youth Month (June) under the theme 'Skills for the changing world – empowering youth for meaningful economic participation', Pnet explored what jobs are available for young jobseekers who are trying to enter the job market. Data from the past 12 months reveals which sectors are more likely to offer jobs for young jobseekers. Sector specific insights for young workers - Design, Media & Arts offers the largest percentage (12%) of open job opportunities by proportion of jobs advertised in the sector. A degree isn't a prerequisite for entering this field, but young jobseekers with complementary qualifications increase their chances of securing employment. - The Architecture & Engineering job sector shows the highest proportion of graduate jobs, indicating that jobseekers in this sector usually require a high level of tertiary education. There are roles such as engineering draughting, however, where a national certificate will get you a foot in the door. - In terms of actual vacancies, the Finance sector boasts the highest amount of student jobs, entry level jobs and junior jobs compared to any other sector. There appears to be an emphasis on accounting professions when it comes to youth jobs in this sector. - Proportionally, the Sales sector also provides a high amount of entry level jobs. This makes it a good entry point for young jobseekers trying to enter the job market. It's also a field where initiative and interpersonal skills may help compensate for lack of qualifications and experience. - Similarly to the Sales sector, the Admin, Office & Support sector offers a range of opportunities for young jobseekers. The sector offers a relatively high level of entry-level access yet is undervalued by some jobseekers that see these jobs as 'dead ends' instead of stepping stones. - A high proportion of entry level jobs makes Marketing an ideal entry level sector for young jobseekers. Young candidates with an interest in Marketing are encouraged to gain complementary qualifications to strengthen their chances of getting a job. - Job roles for young jobseekers within Building & Construction and Information Technology (IT) consists of a spread of entry level jobs, junior level and graduate jobs in various disciplines. Technical certifications are a valuable addition to your CV. While a smaller percentage of open jobs in the Building & Construction and IT sectors are earmarked for youth workers, the size of these sectors means that both offer a sizeable number of roles for young talent. Building skills to overcome barriers Says Bates: 'South Africa's youth have energy, ideas, and ambition, but the job market too often responds with silence. We note how long it takes employers to fill roles in sectors like Finance, Engineering and IT despite 4.8 million young people being unemployed. This highlights a potential mismatch between the skills in the workforce and those required in the job market. 'One of the trends we see in our data is the scarcity of structured, paid internship and student job pathways, especially in fields like Engineering or Finance where experience is non-negotiable. Creating these opportunities should be regarded as an investment in the workforce of tomorrow. For young talent, it's clear that degrees alone are not enough to get that dream job. 'In fast-moving fields like Design, Marketing, and IT, young people can overcome barriers by building practical portfolios, even outside formal work. Creative and technical sectors are hungry for new talent, but they demand demonstrable skill, not just academic results. It also demands that you keep ahead of new technologies, such as AI, which are transforming how we work.'
