Understanding the influence of location on job acceptance in South Africa

There are comparative advantages in Gauteng, Western Cape and parts of KwaZulu-Natal that continue to attract skilled workers. Location is a major determinant of whether one accepts a certain job that is on offer in the various parts of South Africa. It is a residential choice as factors such as life‑stage, access to schools, healthcare, proximity to work, transport availability and cost, utilities, safety, government service delivery effectiveness, etc., strongly influence job‑related location decisions, says Lindiwe Sebesho, a master reward specialist and executive committee member at the South African Rewards Association (SARA).

“People generally prioritise functional liveability over proximity to CBDs, especially where commuting or hybrid work is cost-effectively possible,” Sebesho says. She adds that employment opportunities are unevenly distributed across South Africa’s provinces, thereby reinforcing location‑based labour decisions. Research by the University of the Western Cape (UWC) suggested that there are comparative advantages in Gauteng, Western Cape and parts of KwaZulu-Natal that continue to attract skilled workers.

“Professionals generally choose regions with better municipal performance, schooling and lifestyle amenities, a consideration that has encouraged location‑led job acceptance, particularly among mid‑career and family‑stage employees,” Sebesho adds. The Master Reward Specialist says housing allowances remain common but are now highly concentrated in the public sector and specific industries: Impact of housing allowances on South Africa’s property ownership She says that, however, because most private‑sector employees no longer receive housing allowances, their property acquisition is increasingly dependent on affordability factors such as salary growth, access to mortgage finance, dual‑income households, geographic affordability, etc., rather than employer support. When asked about the future impact of current remuneration trends and employment opportunities on the property market, Sebesho stated that the South African property market’s trajectory is expected to be influenced less by employer housing assistance.