News24 reports that SA’s critical skills shortage is expanding with 84% of companies now finding it necessary to source overseas talent, which is up five percentage points from last year.
The 84% represents the percentage of companies saying international recruitment is essential to meet business needs, while 89% of employers say unfilled critical skills roles negatively affect operations, from lost productivity and delayed projects to missed growth opportunities. According to Xpatweb’s annual Critical Skills Survey, based on responses from 381 employers, including JSE-listed companies and international groups operating in SA, the ten most difficult jobs to fill with local talent remained largely unchanged since last year. These are posts for engineers, ICT specialists, artisans, financial professionals and foreign-language speakers.
According to Xpatweb’s Marisa Jacobs, the severity of shortages is deepening in the most sought-after roles, particularly in engineering and ICT. In 2024 almost 23% of respondents struggled to find engineers, but in 2025, that figure has surged to 38%. Currently, 22% of survey participants have a shortage of ICT specialists, up from 14% in 2024 and just 10% two years ago. Demand for overseas employees to fill executive positions declined somewhat in 2025. Most companies (82%) find that the National Critical Skills List, last published by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in 2023, is helpful. The list makes it easier to appoint foreign employees, using mechanisms like the critical skills visa.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hanlie Nordejee at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
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