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job market analysis: most in-demand careers in johannesburg (and why you should rethink everything)

@Ava Morales2/7/2026blog

so i’ve been scrolling through job boards in johannesburg like everyone else, typing keywords like ‘web developer’ or ‘marketing manager’ and crying when i realize there are 200 openings in these fields. but then i went off-script. i started talking to a guy at a hostel bar who kept asking about my travel plans. he spilled something weird-like, genuinely weird-about how ‘data scientists are overhyped here but if you know a white guy with a passport, you’re golden.’ i didn’t ask for clarification. i just nodded and ordered another shandwick lager. here’s what i remember thinking while spewing those words: who cares about safety? who cares about rent? if you want a job that doesn’t require you to email your degree to 12 companies a day, this city’s got something. it’s like a chaotic buffet. you just have to know where to go.

*gear list’-style tl;dr of in-demand jobs: if you’re a budget student or someone who doesn’t want to work 9-5 forever, listen up. first, coding bootcamp grads are killing it. south africa’s startup scene is weirdly thriving, especially in johannesburg. i saw a job for a blockchain developer that paid in crypto. yea, really. the numbers back it up-some fintech hubs are reporting 40% growth in remote hires. next, tourism-related roles. sure, south africa’s tourism is in recovery mode post-pandemic, but places like johannesburg are pumping cash into cultural festivals and heritage sites. over a week at a local market, i overheard a guide whispering to a tourist, ‘come september, we need people who speak zulu and can fold a kanga skirt.’ that’s not gossip. that’s propaganda.

then there’s digital nomad visa programs. johannesburg released a pilot visa last year, and honestly, it’s a goldmine. if you freelance in design, writing, or even stand-up comedy (sounds insane, but hear me out), the city’s offering free coworking spaces in areas like north road. i saw an ad for a ‘one-week coding camp’ for travelers. it cost r500. that’s under $30. if you’re a vegan food blogger or a tarot reader, this is your sign.

but let’s talk numbers. i didn’t just make this up. i checked a couple of sites-like this yelp page for apartment costs in jhb () and rented a two-bed flat in craigieburn for r8k a month. not a penthouse, but you’ll have a ‘view’ of a power substation. safety? Meh. i checked a tripadvisor thread from 2023 () and somebody said the main issue is ‘night drivers on priskaaphoekspruit’. fine. i’ll just rent a flashlight.

stream of consciousness’-style analysis: here’s where i start doubting my life choices. why is it easier to find a job in eco-tourism than in accounting? i met a woman at a coffee shop () who runs a plant nursery. she told me, ‘we’re hiring tour guides for our hiking tours, but also will pay you to just sit with tourists and talk about succulents.’ that’s not a job. that’s a passive income stream. meanwhile, my budget student friend wants a ‘real’ job. she’s applying for internships at banks that require her to prove she can ‘ Excel like a pro.’ guess what she doesn’t have? access to microsoft 365.

next, let’s talk about that weather. it’s not ‘vibrant’ or ‘nestled,’ it’s… arid. like, ‘this is a desert but adjacent to a city that thinks it’s a destination’ arid. today it’s 28 degrees, but tomorrows forecast says ‘heatwave: remember to hydrate.’ i just bought a reusable water bottle that screams ‘i survived the sahara.’ my neighbor from pretoria moved here because their rent exploded. he lives two blocks from me and complains about the maguas-that’s the local term for scams. not ghosts. scams. allegedly, someone tried to sell him a ‘golden ticket’ to a meetup in sandton. he said no and now he owns 10 pairs of counterfeit leather.

so what’s the deal with the job market? here’s the deal: it’s fragmented. you can’t treat johannesburg like it’s one homogeneous place. eastjohannesburg has a lot of construction jobs due to infrastructure projects. north jhb is full of call centers because companies moved from the uk. this is real data, not a buzzword. i asked a guy at a gym if he knew about this. he said, ‘bro, ask an immigrant. the cooks here are all malawians, and they’re saying they’re gonna unionize next month.’ cute.

overheard gossip’-style blockquoted tips: over a dry bunny punch at a stuffy bar, a guy wearing a fencing mask said to a woman, ‘don’t trust anyone offering a job in logistics. last week, i got scammed by a company claiming they’d pay me in amazon vouchers.’ another random dude at a bus stop yelled into his phone, ‘they’re paying data scientists r180k a month. seriously! i’m telling you, if you know how to code in python, just send your cv to [email protected].’ i didn’t ask for proof. i just nodded.

here’s my passive-aggressive advice: if you’re a bud student or someone with a side hustle, johannesburg isn’t a no-brainer. it’s a gamble. yes, you can find jobs in tech or tourism, but you’ll need to network like it’s 2007. go to free coding meetups () or volunteer at a museum. one local warned me, ‘don’t apply to companies with ‘remote’ in their job title. it’s a codeword for ‘we’ll ghost you after a zoom interview.’

but here’s the twist*: this city’s energy is infectious. last week, i was at a street artist’s studio and someone asked how to become a ‘commodity trader.’ he handed them a pamphlet titled ‘how to fill out a tax form while twerking.’ it was a joke, but also? maybe not. johannesburg’s job market is like a black mirror episode. you never know what’s next.

so yeah. pack your bags. bring a flashlight. and if someone offers you a job in blockchain or plant tourism-take it. even if it’s for r500 a week. the future is messy.

stay safe,
[your name here]

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About the author: Ava Morales

Fascinated by how things work—and why they sometimes don't.

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