Political Scientist
OFO Code: 263304
Last checked 3 October 2026
1. Occupation identity
- OFO code
- 263304
- Occupation
- Political Scientist
- Classification
- OFO 2021
- Major group
- PROFESSIONALS
- Unit group
- 2633 · Philosophers, Historians and Political Scientists
Official description
Philosophers, historians and political scientists conduct research into the nature of human experience and existence, phases or aspects of human history, and political structures, movements and behaviour. They document and report on findings to inform and guide political and individual actions.
More official OFO detail
Specialisations: Political Science Researcher, Political Analyst
- Consulting and comparing primary sources, such as original or contemporary records of past events, and secondary sources such as archaeological or anthropological findings;
- Developing theories, models and methods to interpret and describe the nature of human experience and historical and political events and behaviour;
- Preparing scholarly papers and reports
- Extracting relevant material, checking its authenticity, and researching into and describing the history of a particular period, country or region, or a particular facet for example economic, social or political of its history
- Presenting findings and conclusions for publication or use by government, political parties or other organizations and interested persons
- Researching, mostly by reasoning, into the general causes, principles and meanings of the world, human actions, experience and existence, and interpreting and developing philosophical concepts and theories
- Conducting research in such fields as political philosophy, or past and present theory and practice of political systems, institutions or behaviour
- Observing contemporary political institutions and opinions, collecting data on them from various sources, including interviews with government and political party officials and other relevant persons
2. Demand status
Demand evidence not yet linked
This is an official OFO 2021 occupation. Demand status is separate evidence and is not inferred from inclusion in the OFO.
A national demand signal is not a promise of a vacancy in your town.
3. Salary evidence
No sourced salary record has been ingested for this OFO code yet.
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5. Qualification
Qualification evidence pending.
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7. Industry, sector and provincial context
National occupation classification. Industry and provincial context are shown only where a separate official source supports the link.
No source-backed modern OFO↔SIC 7 industry link has been ingested for this occupation yet. PathLens does not infer one from the job title.
Browse the official South African industry classification →8. Next steps — official links
9. Decision tools
10. Sources for this page
- DHET Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO 2021) · Planned
- DHET Occupations in High Demand · Planned
- Critical Skills List · Planned
- QCTO qualifications and occupational certificates · Planned
- Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey · Planned
- SETA Sector Skills Plans / hard-to-fill vacancy tables · Planned