VerifiedThere is no official published count of electrical engineers specifically. The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) publishes totals for all registered engineering practitioners, but its ECSA’s 2024/25 annual report does not break them down by discipline.
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ECSA registrations at 31 March 2025 (all disciplines)
| Category | Registrations |
|---|---|
| Professional Engineers | 15,467 |
| Professional Engineering Technologists | 6,778 |
| Professional Engineering Technicians | 4,316 |
| Professional Certificated Engineers | 745 |
| Candidate Engineers | 10,605 |
| Candidate Engineering Technicians | 7,292 |
| Candidate Engineering Technologists | 7,242 |
In total, 50,782 people held 55,009 ECSA registrations, 8.74% more than a year earlier.
Why counts are hard
- Many engineering graduates work without registering with ECSA.
- Electricians are artisans with trade certificates, not ECSA-registered engineers.
- People move between electrical, electronic and mechatronic roles.
Demand signals
Electrical Engineer, Electrical Engineering Technician and Electrician all appear on DHET’s 2024 National List of Occupations in High Demand.
Numbers quoted online for “electrical engineers in South Africa” are usually estimates without an official source.
See does South Africa need more electrical engineers?.
Frequently asked questions
How many engineers are registered with ECSA?
At 31 March 2025, 50,782 people held 55,009 ECSA registrations across all disciplines.
Does ECSA publish the number of electrical engineers?
Its 2024/25 annual report does not break registrations down by discipline.
