Most companies in South Africa cannot find the skilled workers they need locally, according to a survey by immigration practice Xpatweb. The 2026 Critical Skills Survey was released on 28 October.
The survey drew responses from almost 400 employers. It found that 76% struggle to recruit critical skills locally, down from 84% in 2025. It also found that 67% are searching abroad.
More than 70% of employers said vacancies were seriously affecting their operations. Xpatweb’s Marisa Jacobs pointed to delayed projects, missed deadlines and squeezed margins when posts stay empty.
Engineers topped the shortage list at 27%. ICT specialists followed at an all-time high of 26%, up from 22% in 2025 and 14% in 2024. Artisans came next at 22%.
AI and emerging technology, at 21%, and senior project management, at 16%, entered the top ten. The survey said this was the first time in almost a decade. Media and marketing stood at 18%, while C-suite roles rose from 6% to 11%.
The survey came after Stats SA reported that official unemployment rose to 33.6% in the second quarter. Youth unemployment, for ages 15 to 34, stood at 47.4%. That means roughly 8.5 million people are looking for work.
Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has argued that the country does not mainly have a skills shortage. He called it a “workforce-transition capacity problem”. His argument is that institutions are not set up to move people to where the economy is heading.
The survey found that employers want experienced and certified people. Among those short of engineers, 30% want six or more years of experience and 65% want a degree. Among those short of artisans, almost 80% require a trade certificate.
In the survey, 79% of respondents called the visa process significantly or somewhat challenging. Another 51% said the Critical Skills List does not cover their needs, or covers them only partly. The list allows faster work visas for listed jobs.
The Trusted Employer Scheme and a points-based system have since been introduced. The Department of Home Affairs has also published processing times for 2026/27.
The ACDP told Parliament in March that TVET colleges produce about 20,000 artisans a year. The party said the country needs 30,000. Daily Maverick reported in January that the colleges face a shortage of specialist lecturers, because industry pay draws experts away.
In an Xpatweb webinar poll, 47% of attendees said AI is already reshaping existing roles. Another 14% said it is reducing the need for some roles.
Manamela has said the aim is to put TVET colleges at the centre of occupational training and artisan development.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL. Image: IOL. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.