South Africa Seeks Skilled Nigerian Professionals for Relocation, Announces Eight Key Job Categories for Simplified Visa Process

The South African government has initiated a strategy to attract foreign talent to address skill shortages in eight crucial professions. This approach was disclosed during a parliamentary Q&A session, where Thulas Nxesi, Minister of Employment and Labour, discussed the country’s critical skill gaps.

Nxesi emphasized the need to supplement the domestic workforce with skilled foreign nationals, especially in sectors where there is a notable scarcity of suitably qualified local candidates.

According to Nxesi, comprehensive research conducted by the Department of Higher Education has led to the publication of a national scarce skills list, which is open for public commentary. This list, aligned with the National Development Plan, the National Infrastructure Plan, the Industrial Policy Action Plan, and the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) Scarce Skills Lists, pinpoints specific career fields where skill shortages are evident.

The identified areas of skill shortage, which present opportunities for foreigners seeking work visas in South Africa, include;
– Information Technology
– Business and Management
– Design
– Engineering
– Financial Sectors
– Marketing
– Medical and Health
– Arts and Media.
As reported by BusinessTech, Nxesi highlighted that foreign applicants must be supported by potential employers who are required to demonstrate their inability to find a local South African candidate with equivalent qualifications or experience for the role in question.