The food and beverages manufacturing sector is a major employer, linking agriculture with consumer markets. It provides over 200,000 jobs but is under pressure from rising costs and global competition.

Skills in demand include food science, quality assurance, production management, and packaging technology. Health and safety compliance remains central, alongside skills in logistics and distribution.

SMEs play a crucial role, often supplying niche or value-added products. For youth and women, food entrepreneurship offers a pathway into both local and export markets. Globally, plant-based foods and health-conscious products are rising trends, requiring new qualifications in nutrition and product innovation.

Automation is reshaping factories, but skilled technicians and supervisors remain essential. Retrenched workers can transition into food logistics, retail, or small-scale production ventures.

South Africa’s food factories are more than production lines; they are ladders to opportunity. With the right skills, the sector can continue to feed both the nation and its economic ambitions.