This article contains a comprehensive critical skill list in South Africa and much more.
A critical skill is a skill that is not easily sourced from local South African labour. Hence, sourcing and employing foreigners to fill the gaps provides a workable solution that helps both South African employers and the country’s economy.
Not just any occupation can be on a critical skill list but only those the country is in dire need of due to its shortage. Thus, the department of Home Affairs consults with the Department of labor and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition identify areas of need and only then is the critical skills list drawn up.
To this effect, South Africa recently released an updated list of critical skills in February 2022, replacing the 2014 Critical Skills List which has become outdated as a result of different factors such as economic development, skills development, more influx of graduates and most importantly the global pandemic.
Normally, it would be expected that the updated list would have more skills but the reverse is the case. The 2014 list had about 215 occupations while the 2022 list contains 101 occupations, with the removal of all Medical related skills, leaving a number of STEM fields such as Information technology, Engineering and Natural sciences and others. Perhaps, this is an indication that the country now has an excess of these skills and, as such, they are no longer critical.
One of the top skills in the newly released list is Multimedia. This is an indication that multimedia skills have become very important to ensure businesses are able to produce.
The implication of a critical skill list is that it enables foreign nationals to work in South Africa in any one of the 101 occupations.
As an individual, if you’re eligible with appropriate skills and qualifications and qualify for any of the critical skills categories, you may apply for a Critical Skills Work Visa, subject to meeting other application requirements.
In other words, if your occupation is on the critical skills list, you’ll be eligible to apply for a critical skills work visa.
SOUTH AFRICAN CRITICAL SKILL LIST FOR 2022
These are the 101 jobs that South Africa will accept applications for critical skills visas:
- Agricultural Scientist
- Customer Service Manager
- Climate Change Scientist
- Chemist
- Director (Enterprise)
- Policy and Planning Manager
- Corporate General Manager
- Programme or Project Manager
- Quality Systems Manager
- Research and Development Manager
- Manufacturing Operations Manager
- Engineering Manager
- Supply and Distribution Manager
- Chief Information Officer
- Data Management Manager
- Environmental Manager
- Call or Contact Center Manager
- Physicist
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Materials Scientist
- Mineralogist
- Hydrologist
- Oceanographer
- Actuary
- General Biologist
- Biotechnologist
- Microbiologist
- Zoologist
- Food and Beverage Scientist
- Conservation Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
- Industrial Engineer
- Industrial Engineering Technologist
- Civil Engineer
- Civil Engineering Technologist
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mechanical Engineering Technologist
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Aeronautical Engineering Technologist
- Naval Architect
- Chemical Engineer
- Chemical Engineering Technologist
- Mining Engineer
- Metallurgist
- Biomedical Engineer
- Quantity Surveyor
- Agricultural Engineer
- Agricultural Engineering Technologist
- Electrical Engineering Technologist
- Energy Engineer
- Energy Engineering Technologist
- Electronics Engineers
- Architect
- Urban and Regional Planner
- Multimedia Designer
- Nurse Educator
- University Lecturer – Senior Lecturer
- FET Phase School Teacher (Grades 10-12) Only for STEM subjects
- Senior Phase School Teacher (Grades 8 – 9) — only for STEM subjects
- Tax Professional
- External Auditor
- Forensic Accountant
- Investment Analyst
- Investment Manager
- Investment Advisor
- Business Development Officer
- Policy Analyst
- Corporate Treasurer
- Organizational Risk Manager
- Internal Auditor
- Occupational Instructor (Air-Traffic Space)
- Market Research Analyst
- ICT Systems Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Software Developer
- Programmer Analyst
- Developer Programmer
- Multimedia Specialist
- Applications Programmer
- Computers Quality Assurance Analyst
- Computer Network and Systems Engineer
- Network Analyst
- ICT Security Specialist
- Economist
- Chemistry Technician
- Town Planning Technician
- Electronic Engineering Technician
- Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Draughtsperson
- Air Traffic Controller
- Inbound Contact Center Consultant
- Outbound Contact Center Consultant
- Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
- Metal Machinist
- Millwright
- Mechatronics Technician
- Lift Mechanic
- Electrical Equipment Mechanic
- Transportation Electrician
- Instrument Mechanician (Industrial Instrumentation Process Control)
Taking a closer look at the list, most engineering occupations remained on the list, which implies that the government expects to see infrastructural growth in South Africa in mining and civil infrastructure, amongst others.
In addition to this, educators, senior university lecturers and teachers in Engineering where not left out. This is because Science, Technology and Engineering has always been a challenging field and South Africa relies on foreign skills for sustainability.
CONCLUSION
An undeniable fact in the publication of the 2022 Critical Skills List is that businesses will be able to source top talent from abroad whilst also developing such talent locally.
Corporate South Africa will also benefit as the list suggests there is a desire to accommodate business needs in the South African economy. Many companies can benefit from having employees with global experience. Finally, entities that compete or provide services on a global scale have been highly accommodated in this new list.
With this list, if you have any of the above and critical skills and desires to work in South Africa, you’re a step closer to making your relocation a reality. However, the new policy is that you must have a job offer to apply for a critical skills work visa.
You will be required to also demonstrate to Home Affairs that you have the right qualifications and experience.
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