South Africa has thousands of learnerships open every year — but most young people don’t know where to find them or how to apply. This guide covers everything you need to know for 2026.
What is a learnership? A learnership is a work-based learning programme that combines theory with practical experience. You earn a monthly stipend while studying toward a nationally recognised NQF qualification. Most learnerships last 12 months.
How much do learnerships pay? Stipends typically range from R2,500 to R5,500 per month depending on the sector and SETA. The YES Programme pays R3,500/month. Some employers top this up with transport and meal allowances.
Who can apply? Most learnerships require: SA citizenship, age 18–35, Matric or Grade 10/11 (depending on the programme), and no previous formal employment in that sector.
Which sectors have the most open learnerships in 2026?
- Retail (W&RSETA) — Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Woolworths run thousands of retail learnerships every year
- IT & Communications (MICT SETA) — Technical support, network admin, coding
- Banking (BANKSETA) — Teller, admin, customer service learnerships at FNB, ABSA, Nedbank, Standard Bank
- Health (HWSETA) — Healthcare assistant, pharmacy support, ward admin
- Construction (CETA) — Site admin, safety, project support
How to apply
- Visit the SETA website for your sector and look for “learnership opportunities”
- Check company career pages directly — Shoprite, Vodacom, MTN, and Capitec all post learnerships on their sites
- Use JobLaunchSA’s Learnerships page to find open applications updated weekly
- Apply early — most learnerships open in January and July and fill up fast
Tips for a strong application
- Write a clean, one-page CV (use our free CV Builder)
- Include your ID, matric certificate, and proof of address
- Write a short motivation letter explaining why you want this specific learnership
- Apply to at least 5 different learnerships at once to improve your chances
Don’t wait — learnerships change your life. Apply today.
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