Explosive 77% growth in AI job demand shakes up South Africa’s market
As many sectors across the country continue to shed jobs at an alarming rate, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as one of the few bright spots in the job market.
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As many sectors across the country continue to shed jobs at an alarming rate, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as one of the few bright spots in the job market.
According to the latest Pnet Job Market Trends Report, demand for AI-related skills has surged by 352% since 2019, with a 77% increase in just the first half of 2025.
The rapid growth is said to be driven not only by tech roles but also by more traditional jobs that now require AI know-how, such as marketing, admin, and customer service.
"Vacancy data shows that demand for AI skills has risen sharply in recent years. Since 2019, advertised jobs requiring AI expertise have increased by +352%. Over the past three years alone, demand has grown by +79%. This shows a strong upward trend, though not as steep as the six-year trajectory," the report noted.
"Notably, the first half of 2025 recorded a +77% increase in AI-related vacancies compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring how quickly the market is accelerating".
The report also revealed that these jobs are mostly concentrated in Gauteng and the Western Cape, with a small but growing number of remote and international opportunities.
"Gauteng leads the demand for AI professionals, followed by the Western Cape. There is also a small but notable share of opportunities beyond South Africa’s borders – with 3% of AI vacancies advertised for international roles and 2% listed as remote (work-from-home) positions".
Popular specialist AI roles include AI Software Developers, Data Scientists, Data Engineers, and Machine Learning Engineers.
"AI is no longer confined to specialist positions. From software developers to content creators, the demand for AI expertise is reshaping career paths across industries. Both employers and job seekers who adapt quickly will be best positioned to benefit from this shift."
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