• Job postings requiring AI skills in South Africa jumped 352% between January 2019 and July 2025.

• The demand for AI roles rose 77% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

• Gauteng province leads with 58% of AI job offers, ahead of Western Cape (24%) and KwaZulu-Natal (4%).

The demand for artificial intelligence (AI) skills in South Africa has increased by 352% between January 2019 and July 2025, according to a report published in late August by online recruitment platform Pnet. The report highlights how AI is transforming entire sectors of the economy, reshaping the labor market, and redefining the skills required by workers.

Pnet’s Job Market Trends Report shows that demand for AI talent surged by 77% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The findings underline the rapid expansion of AI-related projects across industries.

Gauteng province, home to Johannesburg and Pretoria, accounted for 58% of all AI job postings. The Western Cape followed with 24%, while KwaZulu-Natal held 4%. Companies outside South Africa represented 3% of job listings, and 2% of roles were advertised as fully remote.

The report notes that demand is driven by both specialized AI positions, such as machine learning engineers, and traditional roles increasingly requiring AI knowledge. These include content creators using generative AI tools like ChatGPT.

The Workforce Faces an AI-Driven Overhaul

Since 2019, demand for specialized AI roles has climbed 252%, with the most sought-after profiles including AI software developers, data scientists, data engineers, and machine learning engineers. Meanwhile, roles requiring general AI proficiency have grown by 488%, with employers prioritizing skills in platforms such as Zapier and generative AI tools.

“The demand for professionals with AI skills no longer stops at specialized roles,” said Anja Bates, head of data at Pnet. “From software developers to data scientists, marketers, finance professionals, and content creators, AI expertise is redefining career paths across sectors. Employers and job seekers who adapt quickly will be best positioned to benefit.”

Bates added: “It is encouraging to see AI creating job opportunities in South Africa rather than replacing workers. Yet young people entering the labor market and mid-career professionals should expect this technology to transform work as radically as the Internet did 20 years ago.”

The report emphasizes that AI could play a role in boosting job creation and tackling youth unemployment in South Africa, mirroring potential impacts in other regions.

This article was initially published in French by Walid Kéfi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum