The most stable jobs in SA in 2024

Whether you’re a school leaver or an experience professional, these are the most stable jobs in South Africa that see the longest average work contracts. According to Business Tech, quoting Pnet’s latest Job Market Trends Report, the following are the most stable jobs in South Africa in 2024 …

STABLE JOBS IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2024

Interestingly, according to Pnet’s findings, longer work tenures for employees encourages productivity, stability, and expertise within the field. In turn, the report says this helps foster a stronger, more reliable and experienced workforce in that particular field for the employer.

Having said that, it’s not all bad for short-term contract workers. Because the latter tend to not be complacent, offer up fresh ideas and show adaptability that long-term employees may not. However, short-term contacts with higher turnover rates do actually cost the employer more money in the long run as they are less organisationally efficient.

AVERAGE CONTRACT LENGTH

Drilling down into the data on the most stable jobs in South Africa, the average length of time employees stay in a job is 3 years. However, this differs per industry:

• Telecommunication: 5 years and 2 months.
• Marketing: 4 years and 11 months.
• Business and Management: 4 years and 10 months.
• Finance: 4 years and 8 months
• Mining: 4 years and 3 months
• Office and Administration: 3 years and 10 months
• Sales: 3 years and 9 months  
• Construction: 3 years and 4 months 
• Information Technology: 3 years and 4 months
• Manufacturing: 3 years and 2 months          
• Medicine: 3 years      
• Logistics: 3 years
• Architecture and Engineering: 2 years and 11 months
• Media, Design and the Arts: 2 years and 11 months
• Travel and Tourism: 2 years and 10 months
• Sports and Fitness: 2 years and 8 months     
• Education: 2 years and 7 months      
• Community and Social Welfare: 2 years and 6 months        
• Legal: 2 years and 6 months  
• Restaurant and Hospitality: 2 years and 5 months   

So, there you have it, that’s how long you’re likely to stay in the most stable jobs in South Africa. Plus, the report’s findings show that middle managers tend to stay in their roles for longer than executives or entry-level employees. Middle managers stay in their jobs on average 9 years and 4 months. While Executives and Directors only last for 6 years and 8 months on average. Proof that it’s not easy at the top.