AI literacy goes mainstream in South Africa’s jobs market

AI literacy is rapidly becoming a baseline expectation across South African white-collar roles, not just technical positions. Pnet's March 2026 Job Market Trends Report identifies 2023 as the inflection point when non-technical AI competency growth began outpacing demand for AI engineers. Business management, education, finance, and office administration are among the most exposed sectors. However, employers face a significant challenge distinguishing genuine AI proficiency from superficial CV claims, with many prioritizing candidates' learning attitude over demonstrated skill as the market works out what 'AI proficiency' actually means in practice.