SA graduates wish they had chosen trades over degrees, global survey reveals
Most South African graduates wish they had chosen a trade over a degree. A major global study reveals the real reasons why and the results may surprise you.
Nearly seven in ten South African graduates say they would give up their degree in favour of a skilled trade, making the country the most likely in the world to feel this way. That is the central finding of a global study conducted by MoneySuperMarket, which surveyed 3,600 graduates, undergraduates and doctoral holders across 14 countries.
South Africa led all nations surveyed, with 69% of respondents indicating they would swap their academic qualification for a trade role. New Zealand followed at 67%, with Mexico at 62%, France at 58%, and Spain at 55%. Canada recorded the lowest rate of trade envy at 42%, followed by Italy at 44% and the United Kingdom at 45%.
According to IOL, among South African respondents, those working in information technology and technology sectors were the most likely to express a desire to retrain in a trade discipline.
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Which trades are South Africans most drawn to?
The trade career that most South African degree holders would choose is that of electrician, selected by 29% of respondents. This was followed by mechanic at 15%. Globally, electrician also topped the list at 19%, with painter and decorator at 12%, mechanic at 8%, carpenter or joiner at 7%, and heating engineer at 6%.
What is driving South Africans to consider trade careers?
The motivations behind this sentiment are varied but consistent. The leading reason cited by South African respondents was the desire for greater autonomy, with 51% stating that being their own boss was a primary motivation. This was followed by the appeal of practical, hands-on work and the potential to earn more money, each cited by 38% of respondents.
Other significant factors included the ability to choose where they work, cited by 28%, followed by better work-life balance at 27% and job security at 26%. A further 16% said they would prefer work that did not require sitting at a desk throughout the day, while 12% identified reduced screen time as a motivating factor.
What do those already working in trades say?
Vehicle technician Hannah Gordon offered insight into the appeal of trade careers. She noted that self-employment and freelance work are realistic outcomes for many skilled tradespeople, often allowing them to work across different projects in various locations.
Gordon also described the satisfaction that comes from solving practical, complex problems - such as tracing a mechanical fault for several hours before successfully resolving it and returning a functioning vehicle to a customer.
She added that this sense of achievement extends across all trades, whether constructing a building or installing an electrical or water system, with the visible progress and tangible end results being central to job satisfaction.
