Breaking Tradition: Work Culture in South Africa is Changing
The way we work in South Africa is changing. Office jobs and the standard 8 to 5 workday were once the norm, but more professionals are adopting new productivity models to suit their individual needs.
“We’ve been carefully monitoring work culture in South Africa since our first coworking branch in Claremont in 2016 and the transformation is significant,” says Louis Fourie, Founder of Venture Workspace.
“The world we all grew up in doesn’t exist anymore. Professionals are discarding outdated habits and rigid environments that no longer make sense. They’re adapting to change and prioritising what’s best for them and their businesses.”
Here are key trends the Venture Workspace team notes shaping the way work culture in South Africa is changing:
New work models
Recent data by MBO Partners shows that there are currently 7.3 million digital nomads worldwide. This number is expected to rise to 1 billion by 2035.
“South Africa is catching up to shifting global work trends,” Louis notes. “Traditional, long term rental offices and gruelling daily commutes are losing appeal. People are prioritising a healthier work-life balance, which isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters.”
Accessible via all major highways in Cape Town (the N1, N2 and M5), our new prime grade Riverlands branch offers everything professionals could want and need in one place.
Coworking spaces on the uptick
Despite the rise in remote working, loneliness has emerged as a significant challenge affecting morale and engagement. This has led to an increasing interest in South African coworking spaces.
“Working in isolation isn’t for everyone,” Louis explains. “We’re also noting a shift toward hybrid work models and welcoming office spaces that provide a sense of community.”
To put global growth into perspective, this year, the shared office space market was valued at US 41.4 billion. By 2029, it is predicted to reach US 62.75 billion.
The Venture Workspace team further highlights that members seek out their branches for access to reliable power and efficient connectivity. These are key considerations given the country’s electricity challenges.
Growing comfort with AI tools
The South African workforce is becoming increasingly comfortable with automation-centered AI tools in performance management.
“This shift reflects a shift in attitudes towards efficiency,” Louis adds. “Meeting notetakers and content-generator tools are becoming commonplace in many businesses. It signals a growing focus on efficiency.”
Here are five AI-powered note-taking tools we recommend:
- Otter.ai – The free plan includes 300 minutes of transcription per month.
- Tactiq – Captures and transcribes meetings. Also offers free transcription limits.
- Fireflies.ai – Free plan available to record, transcribe, and summarise meetings.
- Notion AI – Enhances note-taking and offers affordable subscription plans.
- Supernormal – Meeting notes with auto-transcriptions, designed for virtual meetings.
The rise of LinkedIn
According to Statista, as of December 2024, there were almost 15.3 million LinkedIn users in South Africa.
“Career-driven professionals are taking steps to enhance their online presence and actively engaging on platforms like LinkedIn,” Louis adds. “I’ve also recently become more active with my personal profile to leverage my professional network to boost the Venture Workspace brand.”
But who is using LinkedIn in South Africa? Meltwater reports that 52% of internet users between the ages of 16 and 64 use it monthly.
With work culture in South Africa changing, Louis urges corporates and entrepreneurs across all industries to consider new ways of working: “Just because something has been done that way for decades doesn’t mean you should too. Ask the hard questions and really consider if the systems and processes you have in place make sense,” he concludes.
