Jobs in Eastern Cape

According to AfricaCheck.org, the Eastern Cape has the country's highest level of youth unemployment. If you are considering a move to the province, and will be assuming a senior or board-level position at a high-earning company, your work is already cut out for you from a corporate social investment (CSI) perspective.

Just a few of the matters you could attend to, to make a difference, include:

• raising the bar on education, qualifications, skill levels, and matters of work experience;
• supporting young entrepreneurs and/or rising business owners;
• reducing travelling and smart phone/device-related costs (perhaps by adding these perks into internships and entry-level positions)
• encouraging foreign direct and domestic investment in both individuals, and the general accessibility of educational information and resources, to increase economic growth and create jobs wherever this maybe feasible.

The average salary in the Eastern Cape, is approximately R221k per annum. Additionally, the most pursued professions include an office administrator, an operations manager, and a software developer – where salaries can reach at least R583k per annum; and the city’s most pursued employers include the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Jendamark Automation, and S4.

In East London, the average salary is slightly higher around R300 000. Popular job titles include that of a pilot, registered nurse (RN), pharmacist, personal trainer, bartender, and bank teller – which pharmacists topping the list in terms of earning potential, at approximately R737k per annum.

According to the Eastern Cape Economic Cluster, the province’s automotive industry is a key economic sector in South Africa, as it contributes significantly to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and exportation clout. An February 2024 article on the South African government’s official website advises that it contributes 4,3 percent to the country’s GDP; and is South Africa’s fifth largest export sector, accounting for 18,1 percent of total exports and employing over 110 000 people.

From a manufacturing perspective, Manufacturing Indaba reveals that “the Eastern Cape is home to four of the seven OEMs operating within South Africa, and up to 100 major component manufacturers”, i.e. Mercedes Benz and Ford Motors in East London, and General Motors and Volkswagen in Nelson Mandela Bay. A key pointer is that at least half of the country’s passenger vehicles are manufactured here, together with 51 percent of South Africa’s export vehicles.

According to the Eastern Cape Provincial website, the Eastern Cape offers a “superior lifestyle with all the modern conveniences”, for any individual or family choosing to settle within its borders. Just a few of its many attractions include:

• more than 300 out of 365 days each year are sunny;
• a magnificent coastline stretching along 800km of the warm Indian Ocean;
• scenic snow-capped peaks in the mountains, during winter;
• an unrivalled sense of community spirit, or Ubuntu, which is recognised around the world yet remains uniquely Africa.

Once based in the province, many of its widely advertised tourist attractions will be yours to enjoy without travelling too far. Here’s a quick breakdown, for the curious:

• some of the best and most pristine sandy beaches in South Africa, including secluded lagoons, rocky coves, and cliff paths to explore;
• sightings of dolphin pods just off the shoreline, and whales passing through the area (on their way to their breeding grown in the Western Cape), particularly at the Blue Flag beaches of Dolphin Beach in Jeffrey's Bay, Kelly’s Beach in Port Alfred, Kariega in Kenton-on-Sea and the Humewood Beach in Port Elizabeth;
• the opportunity to see the Big 7 in real life, from the Great White shark and seasonal Southern Right whale, to buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino at one of a wide range of game farms;
• natural diversity of the terrain and landscape, from the evergreen Tsitsikamma Forest and its renowned Otter Trail, to the rugged Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, the southern slopes of the Drakensberg, and the imposing Great Karoo;

and
• every kind of outdoor sport or experience you could possibly imagine, including surfing, kite-boarding, or sailing in the warm Indian Ocean waters, mountain biking or trail running along region’s the extensive natural trails, or – if the thrill grabs you – bungee jumping from bridges (with a harness of course) into the wide blue yonder down below.

You certainly will, however you are advised to begin your search well in advance of relocating, and to investigate fully the opportunities offered on job portals such as Executive Placements.

Select from your preferred job category below, and see what sort of roles come up readily:

• medical jobs, such as a consultant (medical management), or a sales representative (medical products);
• engineering jobs, such as an engineering data controller;
• IT jobs, such as an IT systems engineer, or an IT application support manager;
• manufacturing jobs, such as a manufacturing coordinator, a manufacturing engineer, a maintenance assistant, or a manufacturing manager;
• tourism jobs, such as an accountant with tourism experience, or an assistant lodge manager.

Making a success of your job search is all about being proactive, prompt, and accurate when it comes to the information you supply to your prospective employer.

The Eastern Cape extends across 168 966km², making it the country’s second largest province after the Northern Cape. The consequence of this vast distance, is that it is the only one out of South Africa’s nine provinces to feature all seven or its biomes or ecological zones – giving the Eastern Cape a tremendous diversity when it comes to its climate.

Temperatures average out at between 16 and 26ºC in summer, and 7 and 20ºC in winter. As mentioned above, the province enjoys a high level of annual sunshine. See the typical conditions of each of its main regions:

• at the coast – subtropical, with a greater amount of wind and humidity than inland;
• within the interior – a drier and hotter climate than at the coats, with less precipitation;
• in the mountains – a mild climate, with snow in winter (which can become heavy between Molteno and Rhodes);
• in the west – a dry climate, with little rain and frost in winter;
from Tsitsikamma to Grahamstown – a mild climate, with more rainfall as one travels west.

The Eastern Cape is not referred to as the “home of legends” for nothing. Here is a list of ten of the famous individuals who originated in the province: rugby legend Siya Kolisi; struggle icons Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Chris Hani, and Steve Biko; award-winning director and producer, Zuko Nodada; cricket legend Makhaya Ntini; renowned singer Zolani Mahola; and Khoekhoe woman Sarah Baartman.

The biggest shopping mall in the Eastern Cape is Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth/ Gqeberha, where visitors are offered a huge range of retail-related variety across more than 181 stores and 21 categories – all under one roof.

Other options include Hemingways Mall in East London, Fountains Mall in Jeffrey’s Bay, Greenacres Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth, and Vincent Park Mall in East London. A more extensive list, can be accessed here.

The Department of Health reports that the Eastern Cape constitutes 13 percent of the land surface of South Africa and is its second-largest province – serving a population, from a health perspective, of 7 130 480 individuals. Its resources are therefore extensive, and consist of 92 hospitals, 28 community health centres, and 711 clinics.

For those relocating to the area, the InfoIsInfo website is a useful resource, listing hospitals and health-care centres under useful categories across the Eastern Cape’s main cities and towns.

Then, on the private hospital list offered by MyGardenRouteGuide, which covers Eastern Cape and Garden Route medical centres, for those on the move, Mediclinic, Netcare and Life Healthcare facilities rank highly in most of the bid centres.

If you are an existing Virgin Active member, try the East London, Beacon Bay, Humewood, Lorraine, or Greenacres clubs – depending on the location that suits you best from a travelling perspective. You’ll also be spoilt for choice with a range of smaller and more intimate health and fitness facilities, which you can search for online or make enquiries about in your own neighbourhood.

Remember that South Africans are a highly active bunch, with gym companies making at least R12.5 billion in revenue each year, only R7.5 billion of which is gathered up by Virgin Active. Further, the Eastern Cape province is home to many running, cycling, swimming, and triathlon clubs, which you won’t want to miss out on if you’re the type who can’t sit still for a minute.