We've all probably been there, staring at the Google search bar late at night, typing: “How to become…”
Whether it's a passing daydream or a sign that you're ready for a change, our search history reveals what we really want to do for a living.
A new study from a digital financial services provider to find out what the world is secretly wishing for Remitly Google search data across 145 countries was analyzed to uncover our ultimate dream careers.
And for South Africa? The results are a beautiful, chaotic blend of traditional nobility, digital hustle and pure creative energy.
While the rest of the world is daydreaming about Hollywood or the cockpit, Mzansi's heart is set on something closer to home.
The number one dream job in South Africa is to become doctor.
In a country where health challenges often make headlines, there is something deeply inspiring about the fact that our collective dream is to treat, care and serve.
This shows that despite the temptation of attractiveness career And prestige, wearing the white coat is still the ultimate allure for Mzansi.
But don't think that we are completely traditional. The rest of South Africa's top ten list feels like the ultimate modern side-hustle guide.
Look beyond the stethoscope, and South African career aspirations come alive incredibly well, fueled by a booming maker economy.
Coming second and third in the country's dream job list are brand ambassadors and DJs, proving that we are a country that deeply loves music, culture and influence.
South Africans are looking at the world of entertainment and marketing and saying, “I can do that.”
This desire to monetize our unique cultural perspective and infectious energy is highlighted by the inclusion of content creators at 4th, actors at 5th, vloggers at 6th and YouTubers at 9th, sitting comfortably alongside traditional staples like teachers, lawyers and pilots.
Top 10 dream jobs in South Africa:
- doctor
- band ambassador
- DJ
- content creator
- actor
- vlogger
- Teacher
- Advocate
- youtuber
- pilot
Global picture: Hollywood takes the crown
The world's new number-one dream job is acting, attracting more than 222,000 annual searches. Meanwhile, search interest for pilots, which had originally retained the number one spot for many years, dropped by nearly 50%, although it still safely held second place globally.
Despite the decline, becoming a pilot remains the top dream job in 11 countries, including India, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Latvia, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Interestingly, the study also highlighted a sharp shift towards sustainability and the future.
Lawyers jumped 55 places in the global top 5, while entirely new futuristic career paths like Prompt Engineer and AI Specialist made their debut in data for the first time.
Top 10 dream jobs around the world
- actor
- pilot
- fire fighter
- Advocate
- youtuber
- veterinarian
- flight attendant
- police officer
- (real estate agent
- DJ
“While careers like actor and pilot rank among the most aspirational jobs in the world, it's notable to see traditionally stable occupations like lawyer and veterinarian climbing the rankings this year,” said Ryan Riley, vice president of marketing for EMEA and APAC at Remitly.
“One trend emerging from the data is that people are placing more importance on financial security. At the same time, dream-driven careers like DJing and YouTuber are also gaining popularity, which shows that many people are still prioritizing passion.”
Riley said the most important finding is the growing impact of artificial intelligence on career aspirations.
“Just three years ago, virtually no one was looking for roles like prompt engineer. Today, AI-related careers are beginning to appear in the data, demonstrating how rapidly new technologies are reshaping the way people think about work. As AI continues to evolve, we expect this area of study to change dramatically from year to year.”