The total higher education R&D personnel in South Africa is forecasted to reach 26.9 thousand FTEs in 2024, increasing to 28.26 thousand FTEs by 2028. In 2023, this figure stood at 26.54 thousand FTEs. The projected year-on-year growth rates from 2024 to 2028 indicate a steady increase: 1.30% from 2024 to 2025, 1.25% from 2025 to 2026, 1.23% from 2026 to 2027, and 1.18% from 2027 to 2028. Over the last five years, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is 1.27%, showcasing a consistent upward trend.
Future trends to watch for include potential impacts from increased governmental funding for R&D, policy changes influencing higher education, and technological advancements that could affect personnel demand. Monitoring these factors could provide insights into sustaining or accelerating the growth of R&D personnel in the coming years.
