For many young South African graduates entering the market, a qualification is their passport for a good job and high salary. However, it is only the bubble that pops up when they enter the employment market. South Africa’s education sector has grown rapidly with never-ending degrees; sometimes, even in majors that are not very rewarding.
Private schools across the country are coming up with new degree certificates, which may look interesting and fun to study, but aren’t rewarded in the job market. Here are fifteen degrees that will leave you unemployed in South Africa.
1. Music
The first degree in my list in the useless category is a major in music. Music is entirely about perseverance through practice and not about an expensive degree from graduate school. Music degrees in the country are usually considered worthless with a few exceptions in classical music, which is something with only limited employment opportunities.
2. Anthropology and Archaeology
If you have a soft spot for history, traveling, and exploring the evolution of mankind, a major in anthropology and archaeology might be interesting; however, it may not be worth your time and money. There are only a few jobs available with this degree in the job market, that too in the government sector.
Hence, in the bulk of degrees, the competition increases and chances of getting a job may decrease. In this case, it is no wonder that a Master’s or Ph.D. will definitely get preference, ruling you out of the equation entirely.
3. Culinary Arts
Culinary arts is one of the easiest degrees you can do in South Africa and you may not need it for the most part. According to statistics, a graduate in culinary school earns an average of 5% more than those with no college degrees, which is not convincing enough to go through four years of formal education.
Even so, most culinary schools no longer make graduation a requirement and they prefer hiring individuals with no formal degree. In this case, individuals should strive for diploma courses and practical training to work on their skills and techniques. It can definitely get them a high-paying job across the country.
4. Art History
People who go for a specialization in art history usually have a high sense of visual aesthetics. Most of them are usually inspired to pursue a degree in the area by notable artists in art composition and how it evolved as a form of putting out an expression. Much of the degree content is about understanding art from different eras for interpretation.
5. Travel and Tourism
Travel and tourism is inarguably the most fun degree when you are in school; but not so much after graduation. The outcome of a tourism degree is not all tempting when you enter the job market, despite the glamor of travel in South Africa. Students interested in launching their career in this field need to learn about travel destinations and strategies to enhance a student experience; however, they still have few job prospects after graduating from college.
6. Theatre Arts
Theater art is yet another art-related degree that may prove useless and reduce your chances of solid employment after graduation. You can figure it out from the fact that many star performers have no such degree in performing arts that can guarantee them a job opportunity. Instead, if you want to pursue a career in theatrics, it is better to apply to theatrical productions and start training as well as earning at the same time.
7. Studio Arts
Another division of this arts degree is fine arts, which includes disciplines like drawing, sculpting, graphic designing, and painting. There is no doubt that the profession is technical and requires skill, but you do not need a degree for this. All you need is some fine arts potential and the right kind of training courses to learn how to excel in the field and market your work to launch your career in the field.
8. Biology
Contrary to popular opinion, getting a degree in biology might not be a rational decision. This is not because the degree contents are useless or there is no hope for employment; rather, Biology is a subject that frequently serves as a prerequisite for other advanced degrees. Thus, it should only be seen as a stepping stone to more advanced coursework or research.
If you are entering the job market with this perception, chances are that you are on your way to pursuing a rewarding job. As per the market demand, it is better to go for specific fields like computational biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and biotechnology. There are many lab and research-based jobs in these fields across South Africa.
9. Advertising
Students with a major in advertising usually learn about marketing trends and selling goods through several media channels like social media, TV, and message boards. However, as soon as they leave college, the work opportunities are only a few and most of them have extensive requirements like publications, internships, etc. So, though you can make a successful career in media in South Africa, the path can be long and less rewarding.
10. Fashion
Most people enter the fashion industry with goals like starting a clothing line, working as a designer in an established corporation, or becoming a fashion marketer. If you are entering the field with a similar goal and the first thing you do is get a degree in fashion design, it might not be the wisest decision. Nonetheless, if you already have a fashion degree, chances are that you might be employed in other businesses or the HR field.
11. Ethnic Studies
After analyzing stats from the South African service industry, experts believe that getting a single degree that focuses on races and civilizations may not guarantee a rewarding job. That said, getting a degree in ethnic studies might appeal to those who are considering opening a business and want to understand a culture better.
Apart from this, a single degree in ethnic studies might reduce your chances of finding better jobs. Hence, to improve your employment chances, it is better that you go for a double major in ethnic studies and different subjects. You may also want to consider consulting a career counselor for a better decision.
12. Philosophy
Choosing philosophy as a single major might not be the right decision, given the dearth of employment opportunities in the South African job market. Finding a permanent career in philosophy might not be impossible, but it is certainly challenging and time-consuming. Mostly, the chance of finding a good job for fresh graduates in philosophy is almost negligible.
That said, we cannot take away the fact that it is an interesting major, and talking about all those notable philosophers like Aristotle, Nietzsche, etc can be fascinating. What’s better is that you accompany philosophy with either law, economics, or politics to improve your career prospects, if you really want to pursue this field.
13. Criminal Justice
The lives of detectives and special agents might look appealing and enjoyable in movies and dramas, but it is not all flowers when you enter the job market. The field is typically considered risky and dangerous, needless to say, it has only a few job prospects (that too in state intelligentsia). For the most part, a major in criminal justice after graduation will only put you in competition for already scarce desk jobs.
14. Languages
There is no doubt that learning a language is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with other cultures, especially when you are preparing for international travel. Well, this choice inarguably has several advantages, but you do not need an entire degree in it. Hence, for the most part, a degree in linguistics won’t help you build a career and make solid money in South Africa.
That said, let’s say you want to build a career in the language industry and may want to work as an interpreter. In this case, what’s better is that you choose a relevant language and opt for a second major, as it will increase your chances of employability after you leave college.
15. Photographic Arts
Like most other arts degrees, a career in photography and videography arts can be started without a formal degree, as most people lean more toward a diploma or course. The general rule of thumb says that a skilled photographer will succeed with the right technique, irrespective of the degree. All you need is one or two classes to know how you can get better at the technique; hence, majoring in this field won’t do you good.
Things that Count When a South African Graduate Looks for Employment Opportunities
Many graduates across South Africa perceive that a good qualification is enough to get a good job and a decent salary. However, the reality is poles apart; and there are several factors that come into play when deciding whether you will be granted an employment opportunity with the right salary.
Let us discuss some of them in detail; so you are better prepared before entering the job market.
Choice of School
In South Africa, higher education schools are divided into two categories; universities for public higher education and graduate private schools that are registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. When it comes to the job market, private institutions have an edge, as their programs are flexible and specific to the employment market.
Moreover, they usually have industry partners that help them produce employment opportunities for their graduates. According to the Daily Mail, one-third of the employed graduates in South Africa earn less than R10,000, while 11% earn below R5,000 per month. In the employment cycle, there was a pattern that low-wage earners were usually black graduates from non-elite institutions.
Here, the reputation of the institution also matters a lot. For instance, employers partner with elite higher education institutions and contribute industry-relevant curricula, so it is possible to recruit directly from the institution’s pool of graduates. Some companies even admit to giving favors to graduates from a particular school.
Nature of the Degree
The nature of your degree is yet another thing that counts, as some fields are higher-paying than others. Specifically, when it comes to the service industry, employment is not dependent on your degree; but rather expertise and skills. In comparison, other technical degrees like computer science, education, engineering, etc have high demand, more future prospects, and numerous employment opportunities.
Experience and Networking
A qualification alone does not guarantee a job and several other factors like networks, connections, and work experience matter a lot. Even with internships, it was noted that the monthly stipend for these kinds of positions ranges from R2,000 to R4,000, which barely covers their transport cost. It only means that graduates backed by family support have an advantage when it comes to going for employment-enhancing opportunities.
Equipped for the Real World
When going deeper into analyzing the graduate employment status in South Africa, it is shown that recruitment is divided along the lines of socioeconomic factors, educational background, and race. This alone is enough fact that skills and qualifications do not ensure useful employment outcomes. The only way out is the establishment of smart policies that recognize individuals based on the relevant criteria.
Which degree is the best in South Africa?
There are several degrees in South Africa with high-paying job prospects in the job market. Some of them include Accounting, Health Science, Economics, Engineering, and IT.
How important is a degree in South Africa?
Of course, a degree in South Africa is important. Education makes it possible for students from different socio-economic backgrounds to secure a better-paying job and get raises in their workplace.
Is it worth studying in South Africa?
Yes, it is definitely fine to study in the country, especially for native citizens. The value-for-money tuition fees, recognized public sector universities and affordable cost of living make a great attraction for higher education in South Africa.
In conclusion, a student should do thorough research before making their minds up about the higher education qualification they want to take. Moreover, it is equally important to think about the choice of schools, networking skills, and whether they are fit for the job. I hope this guide has been helpful for anyone interested in exploring job prospects in South Africa.