Edition June 2025

South Africa’s digital economy is growing fast, but not fast enough to keep up with the country’s pressing need for jobs. New research by Collective X shows that while employers need digital skills, too many junior roles are going unfilled. 

This highlights a critical opportunity to address both youth unemployment and the digital talent gap, if the right support systems are put in place.

“There’s a mismatch between the skills young people have and the kind of experience employers expect. But with targeted training and real workplace experience, thousands of young South Africans could fill these roles,” says Rob Urquhart, Executive for evaluation impact and learning at Collective X.

The digital jobs snapshot: big demand, bigger opportunity

Drawing on data from major online job boards, including Pnet, as well as statistics from Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority and Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the research found:

• 30 000+ ICT jobs currently advertised, making up 26% of all job listings.
• Close to 320 000 people were working in digital jobs in the past year.
• 118 000 digital roles unfilled, a 37% vacancy rate.
• 41,000 of those roles are junior-level, ideal for youth.

These numbers point to one thing: South Africa’s digital economy has space to grow, and youth could be the engine that drives it forward.

Zones of opportunity 

Just 20 job types make up 78% of all digital vacancies. The top three being software developers  at 13%, web developers  at 10% and information technology support technicians (8.4%)

However, the real hiring momentum for junior roles appears to be in areas like data science, analysis, and Microsoft development, roles where demand has outpaced mid- and senior-level supply, forcing employers to look for cost-effective, trainable junior digital talent.

Collective X’s research identifies these areas as “zones of opportunity”.

“While the most common vacancies might seem like natural entry points for junior talent, they are not always the ones hiring young people,” says Urquhart. 

“We are seeing roles like data analysts, data scientists, and Microsoft developers showing a growing share of junior opportunities,  a clear signal that demand is shifting and employers are becoming more open to nurturing young talent in high-demand areas.”

In contrast, jobs in desktop support are oversaturated, making it harder for young people to get a foot in the door.

Beyond skilling: why work experience matters

While South Africa has seen a rise in digital skills training programmes, Collective X notes that the missing piece is demand-led skilling for the jobs employers need to fill, supported by access to meaningful workplace exposure, or work-integrated learning (WIL). Without structured and guided workplace experience as part of their learning, young people struggle to apply what they have learned and build confidence in a real-world environment.

“Business has a major role to play in solving this challenge,” says Urquhart. “There are many young people ready to work, and as many roles waiting to be filled. But we need more employers to open the door.”

Through its Digital Skills Impact Fund Co-payment Programme, Collective X is partnering with employers to co-pay for junior WIL placements. The programme provides a smart hiring solution that lowers risk for businesses while building a sustainable pipeline of junior digital talent.

The initial research findings can be found on: https://www.thecollectivex.org/revealed-the-digital-jobs-south-africa-needs-most-right-now/. The full research report will be released at the end of July 2025.

* Collective X is a not-for-profit coordinating intermediary driving South Africa’s national digital skills strategy. Through a highly collaborative approach involving both public and private sector partners, the organisation focuses on developing entry-level digital skills to address the country’s critical digital talent shortage. By aligning digitally-skilled youth with employer demand and leveraging outcomes-based funding models, Collective X works to rapidly scale inclusive, high-impact solutions. Our immediate objective is to build a strong, future-fit digital talent pipeline, positioning South Africa as a global competitor. Our 10-year goal is to create 500,000 new digital jobs in the country. Collective X actively partners with key government departments to support scalable, systems-level change and unlock meaningful digital employment opportunities for young South Africans.