Demand for services that serve South African homeowners and businesses continues to grow despite the rising costs of living.
We have analysed over 100,000 requests submitted from January to December 2024 on the Procompare lead generation platform for more than 150 services - from architects, building contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, but also accountants, security companies, web designers and catering companies.
What were the most sought-after services in 2024?
By identifying the most requested services we can help businesses to anticipate and prepare for fluctuating demand throughout the year. Consumers can use this information to plan their projects or events, taking advantage of the lower-demand months to potentially secure better pricing or availability.
| # | Min | Max | Seasonality factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Plumbers | January | May | 1.8 |
| 2. Building contractors | November | January | 2 |
| 3. Cleaning services | March | July | 3.5 |
| 4. Solar panels | January | August | 1.7 |
| 5. Accountants | December | July | 3.9 |
Building contractors, similar to architects, experience a surge in January due to New Year plans and fresh budgets. Plumbers see peak demand in the spring, while cleaning services encounter increased demand in the winter season.
The demand for accountants almost quadruples in July, rising sharply from its lowest point in December, as income tax return deadlines approach.
Consumers can plan their projects or events accordingly to secure better pricing or availability.
Which services experienced the largest increase in demand last year?
Event planning is also among the services that saw significant growth in demand last year, with wedding and private party planning being the events of choice among South Africans.
However, this was overshadowed by the remarkable surge in the air conditioning installations, which more than doubled its demand compared to the previous year.
Where are the hotspots of opportunities for Pros?
This data visualization represents the share of requests for all services on Procompare across South African provinces, showcasing the distribution of demand throughout the country.
High demand might present opportunities for service providers to expand their reach, address untapped markets, and potentially increase their overall customer base.
The demand is growing the fastest in the urban centres of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, Polokwane and Mbombela.
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Johannesburg at the moment?
Security companies
- Percentage of all requests for Monitoring and armed response last month: 12.7%
- Growth of requests for Monitoring and armed response last month: +24.4
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Cape Town at the moment?
Handymen
- Percentage of all requests for One-time service last month: 8.7%
- Growth of requests for One-time service last month: +32.6%
Cleaning services
- Percentage of all requests for Special cleaning (windows, carpet ...) last month: 7.6%
- Growth of requests for Special cleaning (windows, carpet ...) last month: +25.2%
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Pretoria at the moment?
Swimming Pools
- Percentage of all requests for Swimming pool installation last month: 13.6%
- Growth of requests for Swimming pool installation last month: +66.8%
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Pietermaritzburg at the moment?
Solar panels
- Percentage of all requests for new Solar panel installations last month: 11.2%
- Growth of requests for Solar panel installations last month: +12.6%
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Rustenburg at the moment?
Air conditioning
- Percentage of all requests for new AC repair and servicing last month: 13.6%
- Growth of requests for AC repair and servicing last month: +15.8%
Does it pay to learn a trade?
If you like working with your hands, are good at solving problems and have decent communication skills, learning a trade is one of the quickest ways into the job market.
The key is always to have access to customers in need of your expertise.
The salary ranges per year are extensive since they depend greatly on qualifications, experience and the project at hand.
Yearly salaries in South Africa according to Payscale
| Range | Average salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Security officer | R29,000 - R234,000 | R60,000 |
| Catering assistant | R37,000 - R105,000 | R78,000 |
| Builder | R37,000 - R242,000 | R66,000 |
| Painter | R41,000 - R126,000 | R92,000 |
| Electrician | R27,000 - R421,000 | R221,000 |
| Plumber | R49,000 - R283,000 | R126,000 |
| Housekeeping cleaner | R4000 - R59,000 | R20,000 |
| Gardener | R23,000 - R88,000 | R41,000 |
| Accountant | R118,000 - R480,000 | R275,000 |
| Architect | R131,000 - R524,000 | R279,000 |
About Procomapre
For nearly ten years, Procompare has been providing businesses in several countries worldwide with high-quality leads, helping them grow and prosper. Today, we forward over 200,000 leads per year in more than 150 service categories for home and business – from architects, plumbers, and building specialists to web designers, accountants, and cleaning services.
Additional information:
Boris Upelj
boris.upelj@procompare.co.za
WhatsApp: +27 72 210 3606
