Some fields have a shortage of skilled people or are expected to grow quickly in the near future. The department of higher education keeps track of these and publishes a yearly list of occupations that are in high demand. The professions that have the most demand are in Stem (Science, technology, engineering and maths) fields. However, there are shortages in many fields, including:
· Accounting and auditing
· Education (from early childhood development to university level)
· Law
· Agriculture
· Medicine (doctors, nurses and medical technicians)
· Artisans
· IT
· Management (many qualifications can eventually lead here)
Top 10 scarce skills
1. Electrical engineer
2. Civil engineer
3. Mechanical engineer
4. Quantity surveyor
5. Programme or project manager
6. Finance manager
7. Physical and engineering science technicians
8. Industrial and production engineers
9. Electrician
10. Chemical engineer
The full list of high-demand occupations is available at: www.dhet.gov.za/SitePages/Resources.aspx
Some other occupations in high demand:
– Accountant
– Actuary
– Agricultural engineer
– Air traffic controller
– Architect
– Attorney
– Audiologist
– Auditor
– Boilermaker
– Bricklayer
– Carpenter and joiner
– Computer network and systems engineer
– Database designer and administrator
– Dentist
– Dietician
– Draughtsperson
– Early childhood development practitioner
– Economist
– Electrical engineer
– Electrician
– Energy engineer
– Environmental engineer
– Environmental impact and restoration analyst
– Fitter and turner
– General medical practitioner
– Geographic information systems technicians
– Geologist
– Industrial designer
– Librarian
– Materials engineer
– Mathematician
– Medical technologist
– Metallurgical Engineer
– Meteorologist
– Midwife
– Nurse
– Occupational therapist
– Paramedic
– Pathologist
– Petroleum engineer
– Pharmacist
– Physicist
– Plumber
– Quantity surveyor
– Radiologist
– Retail buyer
– Safety, health, environment and quality practitioner
– Schoolteacher
– Social counselling worker
– Software developer
– Sonographer
– Special Needs Teacher
– Speech Pathologist
– Statistician
– Supply chain practitioner
– Surgeon
– Surveyor
– Urban and regional planner
– Veterinarian
– Welder