Building & Construction
Construction workers, including bricklayers, carpenters and plumbers, build the roads, foundations and buildings on solar and wind farms, and they build homes and offices that use less energy. Construction is the stage of solar and wind projects that employs the most people, but most of those jobs are temporary and end when the building work is done.
Jobs in the energy transition
Solar farm construction worker
You'd help build a solar farm's roads, cable trenches, panel frames and buildings, usually on a contract that ends when construction is finished.
Wind turbine foundation worker
You'd work in a team that fixes steel reinforcing bars and places concrete for the giant foundations that wind turbines stand on.
Solar water heater installer
As a qualified plumber, you'd install and repair solar water heaters, which use the sun's heat to warm water for homes and businesses.
Extra training: To register as a solar installer with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB), you'd also need an NQF Level 2 certificate in hot water system installation.
Builder of energy-efficient buildings
You'd build homes and other buildings to national rules on energy use, which cover the building's outer shell, such as its walls, roof and windows, as well as how its water is heated.
How to get there
The qualifications
What you need to start
For the bricklayer, carpenter and plumber certificates, the official minimum is a qualification at NQF Level 3, one level below Matric, such as Level 3 of the National Certificate (Vocational), and plumbing also asks for some maths, science and building drawing. To start NC(V) Civil Engineering and Building Construction at Level 2, you need to have passed Grade 9, and the older NATED (N1 to N6) building and civil courses are no longer open to new students.
These are the official minimum requirements, and colleges can set higher ones.
Where you can study
Data verified June–July 2026 from official college publications and the DHET occupational qualifications register. Spot an error? Suggest a correction.
Your career starts here.
Join the Jobox talent pool and get matched to funded opportunities at growing South African businesses.
You need to be 18 or older to register.