Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za Published by HSRC Press Private Bag X9182, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa www.hsrcpress.ac.za First published 2009 ISBN (soft cover) 978-0-7969-2266-3 ISBN (pdf) 978-0-7969-2273-1 © 2009 Human Sciences Research Council The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Human Sciences Research Council (‘the Council’) or of the South African Department of Labour (‘the DoL’), or indicate that the Council or the DoL endorses the views of the authors. In quoting from this publication, readers are advised to attribute the source of the information to the authors concerned and not to the Council or the DoL. Copyedited by Karen Press Typeset by Simon van Gend Cover design by Fuel Design Printed by Distributed in Africa by Blue Weaver Tel: +27 (0) 21 701 4477; Fax: +27 (0) 21 701 7302 www.oneworldbooks.com Distributed in Europe and the United Kingdom by Eurospan Distribution Services (EDS) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7240 0856; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7379 0609 www.eurospanbookstore.com Distributed in North America by Independent Publishers Group (IPG) Call toll-free: (800) 888 4741; Fax: +1 (312) 337 5985 www.ipgbook.com Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za Contents List of tables iv List of figures vi Acronyms and abbreviations viii 1 Introduction 1 Mignonne Breier 2 The Identification of scarce and critical skills in the South African labour market 22 Johan Erasmus 3 Managers 34 Loyiso Mbabane 4 Social workers 56 Nicci Earle-Malleson 5 Engineering professionals 75 Rènette du Toit and Joan Roodt 6 Doctors 113 Mignonne Breier 7 Nurses 132 Angelique Wildschut and Thando Mgqolozana 8 Law professionals 152 Shane Godfrey 9 ICT professionals and associate professionals 177 Joan Roodt and Andrew Paterson 10 Educators 199 Thobeka Mda 11 Artisans 219 Jeffy Mukora 12 City planners 246 Alison Todes Contributors 262 Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za iv | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions Table 1.1: Senior certificate (SC) higher grade mathematics and physical science results, by race, 2002 and 2005 14 Table 3.1: Changes in employment, by sector and gender, 1995 and 2005 40 Table 3.2: Main areas of demand for managers (N) according to JOI, April 2004–March 2007 45 Table 3.3: Summary of main areas of demand for managers in the JOI, April 2004–March 2007 46 Table 5.1: Total employment of engineering professionals, by occupation and qualification level, 1996–2005 77 Table 5.2: Total employment of engineering professionals with degrees and national diplomas, by discipline, 1996–2005 79 Table 5.3: Distribution of engineers, technologists and technicians, by public and private sector, 2000 and 2005 84 Table 5.4: Average annual growth rate in undergraduate engineering enrolment, 1996–2005 95 Table 5.5: Average annual growth rate of undergraduate engineering graduations, 1996–2005 96 Table 5.6: Graduation trends in engineering fields of study, 1996–2005 102 Table 5.7: Average annual growth rate of undergraduate engineering professional enrolments, by race, 1996–2005 105 Table 5.8: Average annual growth rate of undergraduate engineering professional graduations, by race, 1996–2005 106 Table 5.9: Average annual growth rate of undergraduate engineering professional enrolments, by gender, 1996–2005 108 Table 5.10: Average annual growth rate of undergraduate engineering professional graduations, by gender, 1996–2005 109 Table 6.1: Medical practitioners per 10 000 population in South Africa and neighbouring countries, 2004 115 Table 6.2: Medical practitioners per 10 000 population in high-, middle- and low-income countries, 2001 115 Table 6.3: Number of medical practitioners per 10 000 population in South Africa, by province, 2004 116 Table 6.4: Medical practitioners per 10 000 uninsured population, 2000–2007 116 Table 6.5: Number of practising medical practitioners per 10 000 population, OECD countries, 2004 117 Table 6.6: Migration trends (N), doctors, 1988–2003 118 Table 6.7: Estimates of South African doctors abroad 120 Table 7.1: Total nurses in employment, 2001 and 2005 134 Table 7.2: Medical aid beneficiaries, 2001 and 2005 135 Table 7.3: Age distribution of nursing staff, by occupational category, 2006 136 Table 7.4: Output of all nursing courses, every 4 years between 1997 and 2006 138 Table 7.5: Year-on-year growth of registers of professional nurses, 1996–2006 140 Table 7.6: Number and share of vacancies for midwifery and nursing professionals, by year and unit group, 2004–2007 142 Table 7.7: Total number of nursing professional and nursing associate vacancies, by sector, April 2006–March 2007 142 Table 7.8: Percentage of professional nurse posts vacant, 2006 and 2007 142 Table 7.9: Short questionnaire survey results for midwifery and nursing professionals vacancies 143 List of tables Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za List of tables | v Table 7.10: Total additional staff to be recruited by the DoH, 2004–2008 144 Table 7.11: Requests for verification of qualification and transcripts of training by South African nurses residing in other countries, 2001–2005 145 Table 8.1: Experience required in advertisements for law professionals, 2004–2007 168 Table 8.2: Professional occupations in the Department of Justice with high vacancy rates, 2006– 2007 168 Table 9.1: Distribution of CPAPS, by economic sector, 1996–2005 182 Table 9.2: Provincial distribution of CPAPS and GDP, 2000–2005 183 Table 9.3: CPAPS according to level of skill, 1996–2005 185 Table 9.4: CPAPS, by race and gender, 1996–2005 186 Table 9.5: Enrolment in computer science and data processing, by race group and gender, 1996– 2005 190 Table 9.6: Proportionate share of graduate numbers, by qualification level and race, 1996 and 2005 192 Table 9.7: Proportionate share of graduate numbers, by qualification level and gender, 1996 and 2005 193 Table 9.8: Share of graduate production among fields of specialisation in computer science and data processing, 1999 and 2005 194 Table 9.9: Graduates (percentages), by qualification level in ICT-cognate fields of study, 2005 194 Table 9.10: Comparison between the total number of positions that need to be filled to address demand for ICT workers and output of new graduates, 2005–2015 197 Table 10.1: Comparison of the number of educators needed according to the targeted learner-to- educator ratio and the number of educators reported in the 2005 SNAP Survey 203 Table 10.2: Number of educators needed at targeted learner-to-educator ratio compared with number of educators in ordinary schools, by province, 2005 204 Table 10.3: Number of educators needed at current learner-to-educator ratio compared with num- ber of educators in the ordinary school sector, by province, 2005 205 Table 10.4: University education registrations per phase, 2006–2007 210 Table 11.1: Total numbers of craft and related trades workers from the OHS and the LFS databases, 1996–2005 222 Table 11.2: Sectoral distribution of craft and related trades workers, 1996–2005 224 Table 11.3: Craft and related trades workers, by sub-major group occupation and sector, 2005 226 Table 11.4: Craft and related trades workers, by race (%), 1996–2005 229 Table 11.5: Gender distribution (%) of all employed people, 1996–2005 230 Table 11.6: Craft and related trades workers, by gender (%), 1996–2005 230 Table 11.7: Age distribution of all craft and related trades workers, 1996–2005 231 Table 11.8: Percentage of ‘qualified’ craft and related trades workers younger than 40, 2000–2005, by race 232 Table 11.9: Total number of apprentices qualifying as artisans, 1970–2004, by race 234 Table 11.10: Numbers of new apprenticeship contracts prior to the learnership era, 1991–1999 235 Table 11.11: Total number of apprenticeships (sections 13 and 28), 1 April 2001–31 March 2005 236 Table 11.12: Apprentices registered (N), 1977–1981 237 Table 11.13: Total stock of apprentices (%), by race and gender, 2000–2005 237 Table 11.14: Enrolment in FET colleges, 2004 239 Table 11.15: Occupation fields in which Level 1–3 learners in engineering studies have passed exams, accumulated total 1996–2005 240 Table 11.16: Occupation fields in which Level 4–6 learners in engineering studies have passed exams, accumulated total 1996–2005 241 Table 12.1: Cumulative total of planning graduates in South Africa, by race, 1994 and 2004 250 Table 12.2: Graduates, by race, 1994 and 2004 250 Table 12.3: Number of planning graduates, by qualification, 1995–2004 257 Table 12.4: Planning graduates, 2005–2006 258 Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za vi | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions Figure 2. 1: Recommended framework for identification and verification of skills shortages in South Africa 25 Figure 2.2: Comparison of listed shortages and advertised vacancies for design, engineering, science and transport professionals prioritised 30 Figure 3.1: Fields of study of practising managers, 2000–2005 39 Figure 3.2: Doctorate in Business, Commerce and Management (BCM), by race and gender, 1996–2005 41 Figure 3.3: Master’s degree in BCM, by race and gender, 1996–2005 42 Figure 3.4: Bachelor’s degree in BCM, by race and gender, 1996–2005 42 Figure 3.5: National Diploma in BCM, by race and gender, 1996–2005 43 Figure 3.6: Distribution of recruitment, by race and gender, 2005–2006 50 Figure 3.7: Distribution of skills development, by race and gender, 2005–2006 51 Figure 3.8: Changes at top management level, by race and gender, 2000–2006 52 Figure 3.9: Changes at senior management level, by race and gender, 2000–2006 52 Figure 3.10: Changes at professionally-qualified level, by race and gender, 2000–2006 53 Figure 5.1: Employment trends for engineers, technologists and technicians, 1996–2005 81 Figure 5.2: Age profile of engineers, technologists and technicians, 2005 86 Figure 5.3: Race profiles of engineering professionals, 1996–2005 92 Figure 5.4: Engineers – number enrolled and graduated, 1996–2005 98 Figure 5.5: Percentage graduations in relation to enrolments four years earlier, 1999–2005 98 Figure 5.6: Technologists – number enrolled and graduated , 1996–2005 99 Figure 5.7: Percentage graduations in relation to enrolments four years earlier, 1999–2005 99 Figure 5.8: Technicians – number enrolled and graduated, 1996–2005 100 Figure 5.9: Percentage graduations in relation to enrolments three years earlier, 1998–2005 100 Figure 7.1: Comparison between nurse and population distribution, 2006 137 Figure 7.2: Overall professional nursing output, 1996–2006 139 Figure 8.1: First-time first-year registrations for a law degree, 1998–2007 161 Figure 8.2: LLB graduates, 1991–2006 161 Figure 8.3: Articles registered, 1991–2006 162 Figure 8.4: Attendance at the School for Legal Practice and practical legal training courses, 1992–2006 162 Figure 8.5: Attorneys admitted, 1999–2006 163 Figure 8.6: Throughput in the pupillage system, 2001, 2003 and 2005 163 Figure 8.7: Employment of law professionals, by main sector, 1996–2005 164 Figure 8.8: Practising attorneys, 1999–2007 165 Figure 8.9: Total advocates at Bar Councils, 1994, 2000 and 2006 165 Figure 8.10: Employment of law professionals, by age, 2005 166 Figure 8.11: The Class of 2000 – from registration to admission 169 Figure 8.12: LLB graduates and articles registered, 1991–2006 169 Figure 8.13: LLB graduates, articles registered and attorneys admitted, 1999–2006 170 Figure 8.14: LLB graduates, by race, 2002–2006 171 Figure 8.15: Attorneys admitted, by race, 1998–2006 171 Figure 8.16: Number of practising attorneys, by race, 2007 172 Figure 9.1: Distribution of CPAPS, by private sector and detailed public sector, 2000–2005 185 List of figures Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za Chapter Title | viiList of figures | vii Figure 9.2: Average number of computer professionals p.a., by age and race, 2000–2005 187 Figure 9.3: Average number of computer associate professionals p.a., by age and race, 2000–2005 188 Figure 9.4: Output at HE institutions in computer science and data processing, by race, 1996–2005 192 Figure 9.5: A comparison of changes in remuneration between all professionals and all associate professionals and ICT professionals and associate professionals, 2000–2005 196 Figure 11.1: Occupation distribution at sub-major group level of craft and related trades workers, 1996 and 2005 223 Figure 12.1: Advertisements for planners, April 2004–September 2006 251 Figure 12.2: Number of planning graduates, by type of qualification, 1995–2004 257 Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za viii | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions ACTRP Association of Consulting Town and Regional Planners ARV anti-retroviral Asgisa Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa BBBEE broad-based black economic empowerment BCM Business, Commerce and Management BEE black economic empowerment BLA Black Lawyers Association CAGR compound annual growth rate CEO chief executive officer CHE Council on Higher Education CIPRO Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office CPAPs computer professionals and associate professionals DHA Department of Home Affairs DLA Department of Land Affairs DoE Department of Education DoH Department of Health DoJ Department of Justice and Constitutional Development DoL Department of Labour DPLG Department of Provincial and Local Government DPSA Department of Public Service Administration DSD Department of Social Development ECSA Engineering Council of South Africa EGDI Employment, Growth and Development Initiative EMIS Education Management Information System EN enrolled nurse ENA enrolled nursing auxiliary ETD Education, Training and Development ETDP SETA Education Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority FET further education and training GCB General Council of the Bar of South Africa GCIM Global Commission on International Migration GDP gross domestic product GET General Education and Training HBU historically black universities HEMIS Higher Education Management Information System HET higher education and training HG higher grade HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome HR human resources HSRC Human Sciences Research Council HST Health Systems Trust HWSETA Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority ICT information and communications technology IDP Integrated Development Plan Acronyms and abbreviations Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za Chapter Title | ix IPET Initial Professional Education for Teachers ISETT SETA Information Systems, Electronics and Telecommunications Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority IT information technology Jipsa Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition JOI Job Opportunities Index LAB Legal Aid Board LEAD Legal Education and Development LED local economic development L-E-R learner-to-educator ratio LFS Labour Force Survey LGSETA Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority LMIS Labour Market Information and Statistics LRS Labour Research Service LSSA Law Society of South Africa MBA Master of Business Administration MDB Municipal Demarcation Board MEC Member of the Executive Council [of the provincial government] MERSETA Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority MET Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology MOS Magnitude of Scarcity MST mathematics, science and technology NAAMSA National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa NACOSS National Coalition of Social Services NADEL National Association of Democratic Lawyers NATED National Technical Education NC(V) National Certificate (Vocational) ND National Diploma NGO non-governmental organisation NHR Plan National Human Resources for Health Planning Framework NLRD National Learners’ Records Database NPA National Prosecuting Authority NQF National Qualifications Framework NRF National Research Foundation NSA National Skills Authority NSDS National Skills Development Strategy OBE outcomes-based education OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OFO Organising Framework for Occupations OHS October Household Survey PERSAL Personnel and Salary Information System PN professional nurse REQV Relative Education Qualification Value RM registered midwife RN registered nurse SAACE South African Association of Consulting Engineers SACPLAN South African Council for Planners SACSSP South African Council of Social Service Professions SACTRP South African Council for Town and Regional Planners SAICE South African Institution for Civil Engineering SANC South African Nursing Council Acronyms and abbreviations | ix Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za x | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions SAPI South African Planning Institute SAQA South African Qualifications Authority SARS South African Revenue Service SASCO South African Standard Classification of Occupations SASSETA Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority SET science, engineering and technology SETA Sector Education and Training Authority SGB school governing body SGB Standards Generating Body SOE state-owned enterprise SSP Sector Skills Plans Stats SA Statistics South Africa TB tuberculosis TIMSS Third International Mathematics and Science Study UCT University of Cape Town UFS University of the Free State UK United Kingdom UKZN University of KwaZulu-Natal UL University of Limpopo UP University of Pretoria US University of Stellenbosch USA United States of America UWC University of the Western Cape WHO World Health Organization Wits University of the Witwatersand WSP Workplace Skills Plan WSU Walter Sisulu University Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.za [...]... training over the past two decades and insufficient long-term planning by South African employers, who increase their training during boom periods and reduce it during recessionary periods The recent emphasis on learnerships and FET college training has not resolved the issue Employers perceive that the young people who go through these programmes are not acquiring the kinds of skills required in industry... studies in this book, before considering some of the key issues that arise out of them It began by sketching some of the local and international factors contributing to shortages within South Africa and also internationally, and drew attention to the South African political/historical context Next it will explain the DoL’s current system for identifying scarce and critical skills, and indicate which shortages. .. Education and Training and located in poor areas where mostly Africans live, are likely to have learners who are not only mainly African but also mainly in the lowest socio-economic group It is not surprising, therefore, that these learners under-perform in relation to other groups Nonetheless, there 12 | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions are many Africans now attending historically... February 2008 24 | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions FIGURE 2.1: Recommended framework for the identification and verification of skills shortages in South Africa 1 Identify possible skills shortages Conduct vacancy counts 1 Determine vacancy ill rates 2 Find evidence on the degree of specialisation in occupations with shortages and develop appropriate interventions DoL... physical science results, particularly in African schools These include interventions for improvement at all levels of schooling, not only secondary level, and investment in African schools that show potential to succeed 14 | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions In the meantime, programmes that require HG mathematics and physical science are going to struggle to meet the demands... hue and greater urgency in the context of major skills shortages, particularly in engineering, where the shortages are so great that they dominate the official lists of scarce skills The National Scarce Skills List for 2007 lists a shortage of 10 705 engineers and technologists, 9 830 engineering technicians and draftspersons and 23 455 fabrication6 and mechanical7 engineering trades workers (DoL 2007)... ministers, including the Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, denied the possibility of this happening 9 Parties call for cap on AA, SAPA 1 March 2007 16 | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions Manuel is quoted as saying in Parliament: ‘It [the Employment Equity Act] is there In. .. verification of skills shortages In the following analysis of skills shortages in South Africa, a set of indicators suggested by Infometrics Ltd (2006: 19–20) is used to develop a framework to standardise the assessment of skill shortages and to guide decisions as to which information should or can be collected or developed centrally The framework depicted in Figure 2.1 builds on these indicators to... in relation to international skills shortages and a global market for professional knowledge and skills – what Halvorsen (2005) calls ‘knowledge shopping’ – in which South African qualifications are highly prized The following are some of the major local and international trends as identified in the case studies reported in this monograph On the local front, many of the high-level skill shortages in. .. discussed in greater detail in the remaining part of this introduction Despite the widespread recognition that South Africa has severe skills shortages in certain key sectors, there is still dispute as to the nature and extent – and sometimes even the existence – of these shortages It is for this reason that the studies reported on in this book were conducted They explore the question of shortage in 10 . www.hsrcpress.ac.za x | Skills shortages in South Africa: Case studies of key professions SAPI South African Planning Institute SAQA South African Qualifications. Professions SACTRP South African Council for Town and Regional Planners SAICE South African Institution for Civil Engineering SANC South African Nursing Council Acronyms