Scarce Skills in South Africa – which fields are in critical need?

This article was updated on 4 October 2023 as the new critical skills list has been published.

South African jobs are often scarce, with many people applying but only few receiving employment opportunities. Therefore it is imperative that you take the necessary precautions to find a job, and you can start by considering studying towards a qualification that is a scarce skill!

What is a scarce skill?

Scarce skills are specific job opportunities that are well sought after, often due to the fact that employers struggle to find a suitably qualified or experienced employee.

Download the latest Critical Skills List here (updated in October 2023).

There are many types of jobs in the world, each of which require a certain amount of knowledge and skill. Often, individuals tend to study the same type of discipline/ acquire the same qualifications, leading to a surplus of people with a particular skill set. This can be attributed to people only getting selected for that particular course, choosing the course because it seems simple, or choosing the course due to lack of employment counseling or career information.

As such, there is a lack of individuals studying qualifications that are lacking in the country (i.e. scarce skills).

For scarce skills jobs, often the person completing the job needs to acquire a specific skill set and level of experience (for example, those who have years of experience in a managerial position). Scarcity can also be related to gender, for example, a lack of female employees in a particular sector, or even certain individuals needed in a specific town.

Which jobs are scarce in South Africa?

On a regular basis, the Department of Higher Education and Training compiles a National Scarce Skills List of the top 100 scarce skills. To draft this list, the Department uses various information sources, such as vacant job studies, government job creation plans, the National Infrastructure Plan, the National Development Plan, the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) Scarce Skills Lists, and the Industrial Policy Action Plan.

There are currently 142 skilled positions deemed as “critical skills”, as of 3 October 2023. The department has added veterinarians and veterinary nurses to the list.

The National Scarce Skills List can be accessed through various government websites.

According to research, job sectors within South Africa that are affected the most by skills shortages are:

What causes certain fields/ jobs to become scarce?

In South Africa, there are two main reasons for the local scarcity of various scarce skills:
1) Tertiary education can tend to be expensive – this means a smaller group of the population have the ability to access education
2) Low paying wages – this result in many South Africans leaving the country to pursue work and better-paid job opportunities overseas

As such, the South African government has established various plans of action to create jobs that will enhance the country. The government also regularly updates the scarce skills needed for these job creation programmes, thus ensuring work for many people.

Why is having a scarce skill important?

Employment: Having a scarce skill will allow you to become a unique candidate within the job market, as there are few people who possess these skills. Having a scarce skill will allow you to stand out in the workplace and increase your hiring capabilities, as you will be an asset to any company.
Recognition: Having a scarce skill will allow you to become recognised in a workplace, leading to consideration for promotion and inclusion in important business meetings.
Higher salary: People who possess scarce skills are often paid well owing to their careers being respected and rewarded. People with scarce skills often work on various projects that are challenging, thus receiving a higher paid salary for completing important tasks.
Entrepreneurship: Scarce skills are effective when venturing into entrepreneurship as they are often business-related, aiding you in starting a successful business. Scarce skills can give you the toolbelt needed to run a business, attract clients, and generate a high income.
Promotion: Having a scarce skill can lead to promotion at work, owing to you being more qualified than your colleagues.

What are the benefits of studying a scarce skill field?

People with scarce skills may be able to find and secure a job more easily as employers look for individuals with specific knowledge
People with scarce skills may find that they get job offers from more than one employer
People with scarce skills may get paid more as they receive a higher salary package
The career prospectus for individuals with scarce skills may look more promising
People with scarce skills may be selected first for admission into an educational institution
Scarce skills are often the same across the world, meaning that people who possess such skills may be offered opportunities overseas
People with scarce skills will ultimately help not only themselves, but their country

Therefore, you are highly encouraged to pursue studies in scarce skills. There are a number of educational institutions that offer qualifications in scarce skills, in avenues such as internships, learnerships, apprenticeships, bursaries, certificates, diplomas, and degrees.

Read our other tips and articles here:
Read our top tips on submitting your bursary application for the best chance of success.
Read our tips on how to write a bursary motivational letter here.
Read about how to prepare for a bursary interview here here.
Read about the various ways to get free education in South Africa.
Read about the National Benchmark Test (NBT) for University Entrance.

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This post was last updated in October 2023.

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