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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.
Other in-demand jobs include compliance professionals to understand whether companies have failed or succeeded in complying with relevant legal provisions such as the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act.
The report has also identified challenges such as a shortage of skills in the sector which has been exacerbated by mass emigration to international opportunities outside of South Africa by potential job candidates.
Procurement and supply chain
These are the most in-demand jobs according to the report:
1. Supply chain planning
2. Demand planner
3. Procurement manager
4. Logistics manager
5. Plant supervisors
The procurement and supply chain is one of the most demanding and challenging industries for potential job candidates. According to the report, due to the global pressures on the supply chain, it has become challenging to find candidates who want to fill the positions.
Other in-demand skills include warehouse management and supply chain planning. These skills are needed to provide sufficient production planning and supplier planning to meet the needs of the customer.
Sales and marketing
These are the most in-demand jobs according to the report:
1. Business development manager
2. Digital marketing manager
3. Head of marketing
4. Marketing manager
5. Key account manager - national
As new businesses enter the market, new positions have been created in the industry for business development managers, sales managers and head of sales according to the report. Technological and digital advances in the industry have also seen an increased demand for enterprise sale positions and candidates who are adaptable to fast-paced work, agile and have data analytics experience.
Technology
These are the most in-demand jobs according to the report:
1. Cloud computing
2. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
3. Data scientist
4. Software development
5. Cybersecurity
6. Business analysis
As one of the fastest-growing industries within South Africa, the need for technological skills is growing as businesses continue to use data within daily decisions. The growing use of data has also led to increased demand for cybersecurity.
