Kaya 959 Kaya Biz

TECH & INNOVATION: SA’s Critical Skills Crunch and why businesses are struggling to find talent.

Loading player...
GUEST: Marisa Jacobs – Managing Director at Xpatweb

South Africa’s critical skills shortage is deepening and businesses are feeling the impact. The latest Xpatweb Critical Skills Survey reveals that 84% of large corporations and multinationals are struggling to recruit highly skilled professionals, especially in engineering, ICT, and healthcare.

Marisa Jacobs unpacks what’s driving the talent drought, why the visa system remains a bottleneck, and how the Trusted Employer Scheme is starting to ease the pressure.

What does this mean for South Africa’s growth ambitions, and how can local companies compete in a global race for talent?
28 Oct 2025 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Wealth Creation: Risks of two-pot withdrawal during volatility

South Africa’s two-pot retirement system has entered its second year—and withdrawals have surged again. According to Ninety One’s Jaco van Tonder, this year’s timing could be particularly damaging as the Middle East conflict triggers a sharp market pullback.
23 Mar 3PM 28 min

Careers Corner: SA Autos as a job creator

On today’s Careers Corner feature, we speak to Thembinkosi Pantsi, National Vice Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers' Association, about driving South Africa’s youth towards a career in the local automobile industry
23 Mar 3PM 21 min

BER’s 3-case scenario for SA as Middle East tensions rise

South Africa’s economic outlook has become significantly more uncertain following the latest escalation in the Middle East. Lisette IJssel de Schepper from the Bureau for Economic Research joins us to unpack three scenarios—mild, medium, and severe—each with very different implications for inflation, interest rates, and growth.
23 Mar 3PM 10 min

Thungela beats 2025 export target

South African coal miner Thungela sees full-year profitability hit by weak coal prices, a stronger rand, and impairments. Despite this, Thungela beat its estimates for export volumes. CEO Moses Madondo unpacks the numbers
23 Mar 3PM 13 min

AdvTech delivers record operating profit in 2025

AdvTech today delivered a record-breaking R2 billion in operating profit on the back of strong enrolments and margin gains. The private school education group is planning expansion into the continent, and joining us with details is CEO Geoff Whyte.
23 Mar 3PM 9 min
All episodes