As a provider of recruitment services and small business HR support, staying ahead of South Africa’s Human Capital trends is central to our work. Each month we analyse a range of data sources — from Google Search Console to labour market reports — to help decision-makers understand the forces shaping hiring, compliance, and workforce planning.
Here are the major Recruitment, HR and Human Capital trends we’re tracking for November 2025.
What Our Digital Assets Reveal About HR and Recruitment Trends
Each month we start by looking at our digital assets and search data to gauge what HR professionals are actively researching. Going into the final quarter of 2025, the standout search terms are:
- Temporary Employment Services (TES)
- Benefits of workforce planning
- Workforce planning benefits
- Corporate wellness
These mirror the patterns we’ve seen throughout the year — specifically the ongoing uncertainty around the new Employment Equity legislation, and the decisions companies must make as they approach the 50-employee thresholdthat classifies them as “qualifying employers.”
Organisations are clearly looking for guidance on:
- Structuring TES engagements
- Managing workforce risk under the new EE targets
- Using consultants to remain compliant
- Supporting employee wellbeing through corporate wellness initiatives
The persistence of these search terms tells us that the employment landscape remains fluid, and businesses are cautious about how headcount decisions affect compliance.
Hiring Activity Strengthens: Insights From the QLFS
The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) offers encouraging signs for the labour market.
In the quarter ending September 2025, South Africa’s unemployment rate dropped by 1.3%, further reinforcing evidence of a gradual economic recovery.
Employment increased in six out of ten industries:
- Construction: +130,000
- Community & Social Services: +116,000
- Trade: +108,000
- Manufacturing: –62,000
- Finance: –54,000
- Utilities: –30,000
- Transport: –3,000
Construction continues to stand out as one of the major winners — a trend that strongly aligns with our own internal recruitment data.
Confirmation From the PNet Market Trends Report
These trends are supported by the latest PNet Market Trends Report, which highlights rising levels of recruitment demand:
- Hiring activity: +7% year-on-year, +6% month-on-month
- Vacancy advertising: +6% year-on-year, +4% month-on-month
PNet also highlighted the most in-demand job categories, with Building Project Management aligning closely with the QLFS’s construction rebound.
The Remote vs. Office Debate: A Nuanced Shift
One of the most interesting insights from PNet relates to remote work:
“Since early 2023, remote job opportunities in South Africa have been on the decline… but from March to September 2025, the share of remote jobs increased by +0.5 percentage points.”
Remote and hybrid vacancies now account for 3.6% of all advertised roles.
While small, this is the first sustained increase in remote opportunities in two years — an important data point for employers still navigating flexibility policies.
Salaries Are Rising: Another Indicator of Labour Market Recovery
South African salaries have now risen for the sixth consecutive month.
- PayInc Net Salary Index: R21,428
- Monthly increase: +0.3%
- Year-on-year increase: +2.3%
This reflects growing labour market resilience and an uptick in economic activity, especially in sectors prioritising skilled talent.
The Fair Pay Bill: What Executives Are Asking
The proposed Fair Pay Bill continues to drive debate across the HR and corporate governance space. Its goal — to bring greater transparency to remuneration structures — has prompted legitimate questions from leadership teams.
EBNet recently unpacked these concerns in detail, examining:
- Whether the legislation will increase compliance complexity
- How executive pay ratios will need to be reported
- The practical implications for HR and payroll systems
As the bill progresses, we expect this to remain a dominant HR conversation.
Looking for a Recruitment Partner in Johannesburg?
If your business is looking to secure top talent in technology, finance, sales, marketing, or specialised operational roles, our recruitment team can assist.
Through our technology partners, we have:
- Access to 150,000+ candidates
- Behavioural and cultural fit screening
- Custom filtering questions
- Video CV integration
- Personality profiling tools
These capabilities allow us to deliver high-quality candidates at below traditional recruitment rates, helping small and mid-sized businesses hire efficiently without sacrificing quality.
If you’d like to send us a recruitment brief or schedule a meeting, you can find our full contact details HERE.