The most in-demand jobs and skills in South Africa – report
News24 | 28 Dec 2022
A new report by the recruitment group Michael Page has highlighted a strong demand for specific professional skills in South Africa, noting that global companies are poaching experienced South African staff while local employers are looking for candidates with the same talent.
Michael Page Africa, a division of the UK-headquartered PageGroup, recruits managers and senior executives on the African continent.
Based on data captured by the group from job advertisements and insights from consultants, it has compiled a new report on the most in-demand skills and experience needed within various sectors of South Africa.
Banking and financial services industry
These are the most in-demand jobs according to the report:
1. Internal audit manager
2. Senior trader
3. Senior relationship manager
4. Business development manager: Insurance
5. Head of operations: Chartered insurance brokers
6. Corporate finance: Mergers and acquisition
With an increased focus on hiring individuals who can influence business revenue, business development managers, specialising in insurance, wealth, and banking have become popular within the job market. Businesses have also been actively seeking candidates for administration or "back-office roles" to cope with "increased revenue and the opening of new sectors", according to the report.
Engineering and manufacturing
These are the most in-demand jobs according to the report:
1. Head of engineering
2. Project directors
3. Quality assurance and quality control manager
4. Product supervisor
The report identifies key trends towards a customer-focused manufacturing industry and a shift which focuses on quality assurance and quality control to "develop superior products" and ensure high levels of productivity. As such, there has been an increased demand for quality assurance and quality control managers.
In addition, the industry has been facing challenges including a shortage of expertise and talent in industries such as project management which can be seen in the increased demand for jobs such as project directors and product supervisors.
Finances and accounting
These are the most in-demand jobs according to the report:
1. Commercial finance manager and controller
2. Tax-orientated roles
3. Finance manager
4. Head of finance
5. Regional and African experience
Employers have also begun to look for candidates who have both accounting and technical skills.
The report also identified a need for a "regional and African experience" through streamlining amongst African countries. As a result, such streamlining is able to create a "greater sense of responsibility" in the market, as well as greater interaction between business professionals and stakeholders to understand finances.
Legal industry
These are the most in-demand jobs according to the report:
1. Corporate commercial in-house counsel
2. Compliance officer and manager
3. Fintech, IT and ICT lawyer
4. Corporate mergers and acquisitions and banking, and finance lawyer
5. Company secretary and corporate governance professional
6. African legal counsel
The increased demand for skills in technology within the legal industry is important within the context of South Africa, according to the report, where "South Africa is a commercial hub for external growth on both national and continental levels". There has also been an increasing need for cross-border partnerships between companies. in the continent, which is linked to the increasing demand for African legal counsel.
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