These kinds of skills are usually referred to as “Scarce Skills”. This usually means that there is a shortage of people in the country who have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform a particular job.
Therefore, many unemployment people have been encouraged to do courses or qualifications that will upskill them as it will give them a greater chance at finding employment.
According to contracting company, Outsized, the following skills and jobs have seen a broad increase in demand in the banking and finance sector:
- Actuarial skills – Specialized math knowledge and problem solving
- Project support – For example, project and programme managers, scrum masters and agile specialists.
- Regulatory skills – For both implementation and regulatory development.
- Data – Data analysts and data architects in particular.
- Financial risk specialists – Covering credit, market, and operational risk
Whilst other reports and data suggest that the following occupations are high in demand in South Africa as well:
- Digital economy
- Energy
- Infrastructure development
- Tourism and agriculture
- Web developer
- Quantity surveyor
- Computer network
- Technician
- Systems and network administration
- Microbiologist
- FET phase schoolteachers (Grades 10-12)
- Senior phase schoolteachers (Grades 8-9)
- Aeronautical engineer
- Civil engineer
- Physicist
- Electrical engineer
- Concentrated solar power process controller
- Mechatronic technician
- Agricultural scientist
For prospective university or college students, it is always advisable to take a look at what the top scarce skills in the country are before deciding on what to study when furthering your education.
One of the main benefits of going into a field that is in high demand is that you you're likely to be guaranteed a job once you graduate.
