VerifiedRetail learnerships remain one of the most accessible routes into work for young South Africans with little or no experience. Mr Price, Woolworths and the Shoprite Group each run structured programmes that combine classroom training with paid in-store experience and a recognised qualification, and they recruit across the country rather than in one annual window.
Shoprite Group learnerships
- A 12-month wholesale and retail learnership at NQF level 2 or 4 in stores, with butchery and bakery specialisations, leading to a Wholesale and Retail Operations certificate.
- The Retail Readiness Programme, a shorter skills programme for learners with no experience, leading to an NQF level 3 certificate.
- The Money Market YES programme, which paid a base stipend of about R3 360 a month plus commission in 2026 and closed on 13 February 2026.
- Requirements: South African citizen aged 18 to 30, Grade 10 to 12 depending on the programme. Apply at shopriteholdings.co.za/careers.
Mr Price Foundation JumpStart
- A free work-readiness programme for unemployed Matriculants: an online life-skills course, in-person training and interviews, and a week of hands-on experience in a store.
- Graduates are matched with entry-level vacancies at Mr Price and partner retailers, although placement is not guaranteed.
- Requirements: aged 18 to 33, unemployed and not studying, a Matric certificate and no criminal record.
- Apply at mrpricefoundation.org/jumpstart by entering your postal code to see whether places are open in your area.
Woolworths learnerships and trainee programme
- Store learnerships and YES4Youth placements in stores and distribution centres, with YES stipends of about R5 241 a month in 2026.
- An annual trainee programme for graduates in food, fashion, beauty and home, advertised each year on the careers portal.
- Requirements: South African citizen with Matric for learnerships and a relevant degree or diploma for the trainee programme.
- Create a profile and upload your CV, ID and certificates at careers.woolworths.co.za.
How to apply for a retail learnership
- Register on each retailer’s official careers portal and set up job alerts for learnerships in your area.
- Prepare a one-page CV with contactable references and certified copies of your ID and Matric certificate.
- Apply online as soon as a programme opens. Intakes fill quickly, and late applications are not considered.
- Never pay anyone to “secure” a place. The retailers charge no fees at any stage.
Contact details
- Shoprite Group careers: shopriteholdings.co.za/careers/youth-opportunities
- Mr Price Foundation: www.mrpricefoundation.org
- Woolworths careers: careers.woolworths.co.za
Students who want to study retail rather than work first should see the Shoprite Holdings bursary, and graduates the Samsung graduate programme.
FAQs
1. Are retail learnerships open for 2027? +
Retailers advertise learnerships throughout the year rather than in one window. Shoprite posts intakes on its careers portal as they open, Mr Price Foundation's JumpStart accepts applications whenever places are available in your area, and Woolworths lists learnerships and its annual trainee programme on careers.woolworths.co.za. Check each portal monthly.
2. What does the Shoprite learnership offer? +
A 12-month wholesale and retail learnership at NQF level 2 or 4 in stores, butcheries and bakeries, with a monthly stipend, for South Africans aged 18 to 30 with Grade 10 to 12. Shoprite's Money Market YES programme paid a base stipend of about R3 360 a month plus commission in 2026.
3. What is Mr Price JumpStart? +
A free work-readiness programme from the Mr Price Foundation for unemployed Matriculants aged 18 to 33: an online life-skills course, in-person training and a week of in-store experience, with placement support at Mr Price and partner retailers. Placement is not guaranteed.
4. What does Woolworths offer? +
Store learnerships and YES4Youth placements (about R5 241 a month in 2026), plus an annual trainee programme for graduates in food, fashion, beauty and home. Apply through the Woolworths careers portal with a CV, ID and Matric certificate.
5. Who qualifies? +
South African citizens, usually aged 18 to 34, with at least Grade 10 to 12 depending on the programme, unemployed and not studying full-time, with no criminal record. Some programmes require a Matric certificate.
6. Do learnerships cost anything? +
No. Shoprite, Mr Price and Woolworths never charge application, registration or placement fees. Anyone asking for money to secure a place is running a scam.
Update note (checked September 2026): none of the three retailers had published a single 2027 intake when we checked, because they advertise learnerships throughout the year as stores need them. Shoprite posts intakes on its careers portal as they open; Mr Price Foundation’s JumpStart accepts applications whenever places are available in your area; and Woolworths lists learnerships and its annual trainee programme on its careers portal. Check each portal monthly and apply as soon as a programme near you appears.
