Press Release
SAGEA Employer Benchmark and Candidate Insights 2026 reports reveal: Leading employers are flooded with applications, as AI impacts graduate recruitment.
Even with economic uncertainty, South Africa’s leading employers are maintaining or even expanding investment in graduate talent. At the same time, student job hunters are using all the tools at their disposal to submit as many applications as possible. The findings highlight the intense competition facing graduates entering South Africa’s labour market, where securing a first professional role has become increasingly difficult.
Results from independent research with employers in South Africa show that they plan to increase the level of early talent recruitment for next year. The SAGEA Employer Benchmarking Survey 2026 is based on responses from 78 of the leading employers in the country. While they navigate business uncertainty, graduate recruitment continues to focus on long-term hiring strategies with a 4% increase in the number of positions available next year.
Despite an average of 138 applications per vacancy – the highest figure seen since the research began two decades ago – many employers continue to report a shortage of candidates with the right skill sets. While demand for technically literate graduates is high, employers stress the need for excellent soft skills such as critical thinking, resilience, strong communication skills, and a desire for continued learning.
Complementing this research, The SAGEA Candidate Insights 2026 looked at the perspectives of 2,598 new or future employees. There is a continuing trend where candidates who began job hunting in their first year at university were more likely to secure a graduate position with their employer of choice. On average, candidates made ten applications each, and most had embraced AI tools to support their job search, particularly for tasks such as creating CVs, composing cover letters, or to help prepare for interviews. Concerningly, some candidates are now using AI to help them complete aptitude tests or during online interviews with employers.
Highlights from The SAGEA Employer Benchmarking 2026 include:
- Nearly two-fifths of employers were hiring graduates for leadership development programmes, where they will become future executives of the organisation. A quarter were recruiting to fill in-demand or technical roles, while the remainder hired graduates for entry-level roles, and some (but not all) will progress to manager level.
- The accounting and professional services firms were the largest recruiters, with nearly half of all vacancies in 2026. Other major recruiters in 2026 were banking and finance institutions, engineering, mining & manufacturing companies, and IT or telecoms organisations.
- By job function, the most vacancies were found in audit, which accounted for two-fifths of total vacancies available in 2026.
- The median number of graduate vacancies in 2026 is 31, which is one of the higher levels recorded since the research began.
- The median graduate starting salary for 2026 was R280,000 which is R20,000 higher than last year and remains significantly higher than the salaries from five years ago.
- The highest starting salaries in 2026 were for actuarial work, quantitative analysts, banking and management consultants – these roles had median starting salaries of R500,000 or more.
- Employers received a median of 4,100 applications, which is the highest level on record.
- The median number of applications per vacancy was 138, which is the highest on record.
- Just one in eight applications were successful in reaching the next stage of employers’ selection processes. An average of eight per cent of candidates reneged on offers they had accepted.
Highlights from The SAGEA Candidate Insights 2026 include:
- The most popular destinations were audit, legal, technology, finance and engineering.
- The four universities with the highest attendance levels accounted for half of all survey participants.
- Candidates made an average of ten applications, which is the highest on record.
- Training and development, the organisation’s reputation and culture, long-term career prospects and security of employment are the primary factors when candidates are deciding where to apply.
- Just over half of the candidates were going to be working in Johannesburg, while a sixth had secured positions in Cape Town.
- Most candidates used AI tools to help them with their job search, primarily at the early stages such as researching opportunities, completing application forms or practising online tests.
Interim Executive Director for SAGEA, Nicole Petersen commented:
“It is fantastic to see organisations from a wide range of industries who remain committed to graduate employment, even in these uncertain economic conditions. These leading employers recognise the value of hiring high-calibre graduates, and while AI will impact the types of roles available, it is clear that early talent will be crucial to the continued success of an organisation as they bring digital skills, adaptability and a desire for lifelong learning to the business.
While the shortage of relevant skills in the market continues to be a concern, the top employers are responding by investing in potential. By recruiting graduates who may not yet be ‘fully formed’ but who demonstrate curiosity, passion, and adaptability, employers will bridge the skills gap and build a more resilient, AI-enabled workforce.”
Notes for Editors
1. The SAGEA Employer Benchmarking 2026 and The SAGEA Candidate Insights 2026 were carried out on behalf of The South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) by the specialist graduate research company, High Fliers Research Ltd. Research took place from February to May 2026.
2. The South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) is a professional association that is the hub of graduate employment in South Africa. Through exclusive insights projects, ingenuity and connection to international organisations, SAGEA provides members with access to the latest graduate employment insights, trends, global best practice and resources to help them attract and retain the best talent for their businesses. More information about SAGEA
3. For further information or additional comments please contact:
Nicole Petersen, Interim Executive Director, South African Graduate Employers Association. Email: nicole.petersen@sagea.org.za
4. The employers who participated in one or both pieces of research include:
| Absa Group | FirstRand | SAGE |
| Allan Gray | FNB | Sage |
| Anglo American | Genesis Analytics | Saint-Gobain |
| Astron Energy | Glencore | Sanlam |
| Auditor General of South Africa | Hatch | Santam |
| Baker McKenzie | Huawei | Sasol |
| BCG | Impact.com | SNG Grant Thornton |
| BDO | Imperial Logistics, a DPWorld Company | South 32 Hillside |
| Bowmans | Investec | South 32 Hotazel Manganese |
| Bridgestone | KPMG | South African Reserve Bank |
| Capitec Bank | L’Oréal | South African Revenue Service |
| Cell C | Lactalis | Standard Bank |
| Clicks Group | McKinsey & Company | Swiss Re Africa |
| Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr | Mercedes Benz South Africa | TFG |
| Clyde & Co | Mondi Group | The Shoprite Group of Companies |
| Coca Cola Beverages South Africa | Mr Price Group | The South African Breweries |
| Computershare | Nedbank | Tiger Brands |
| Coronation | Nestlé | Total Energies |
| CSIR | Ninety One | Toyota |
| Deloitte | NTT DATA | Truworths |
| Derivco | Oliver Wyman | Valterra Platinum |
| Development Bank of Southern Africa | Parliament of RSA | Vodacom |
| Discovery | Pinsent Masons | Webber Wentzel |
| ENS Africa | PKF | Werksmans Attorneys |
| Entelect | PSG Financial Service | Woolworths |
| Exxaro Resources | PwC | WSP |
| EY | RCL Foods | Zutari |
| Financial Intelligence Centre | RMB |