Pretoria - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Local employment is very hard to find. - Oct 2024
There are EFM posts. Many are lower level/administrative, but not all. It depends on your skills. Unemployment is SA is super high, around 40% I think so finding something externally will be hard. - Apr 2023
Some EFMs work in the Embassy. I am not sure about others. Local salaries are low compared to the U.S. - Mar 2023
Spouses do all sorts of things here. Some are here on DETO (Domestic Employee Teleworking Overseas); some work remote for a company in the US; a few work on local economy though not many; some do things like teach yoga or cook or give music lessons, etc.; some work at the Embassy. Embassy employment options are very competitive, meaning multiple applicants for most jobs. Since not all local Embassy positions require a local language, many EFMs work in those positions also. - Jun 2022
All of the above and decent options within the US mission. Local unemployment is high but there tend to be opportunities for skilled professionals. It is a very mature economy and academia is robust. - Jan 2020
It's not easy to find a local job. There is very high unemployment and a large group of qualified South Africans. - Dec 2019
As a spouse, I found a job teaching at a major university in Pretoria which was a great opportunity. Several other spouses have gotten jobs in IT. Unemployment is high nationally, but there is still a shortage of skilled workers, so if you are a niche specialist, you might be in luck. Spouses of embassy hires are given work permits here. - Mar 2019
Local salaries aren't great unless you work in a corporate environment. Not many spouses do that. Most spouses rely on mission employment, but with the current freeze, they've struggled a bit. It is not a great situation. Self-employed spouses do better, as far as I have seen. - Jan 2018
There are some opportunities in aid organizations. - Dec 2009
Wages are very low, but there are opportunities. The embassy has a SNAP program here. - Aug 2009
Not really but there is a coordinator for this at the Embassy. The wages are very low compared to the States. - Feb 2009
No. - Oct 2008
Don't know about those not affiliated with the Embassy, but any EFM who wants a job can get one in the Embassy. They are begging for people. - Jun 2008
