Supply and Demand: Pathways for enhancing critical skills in South Africa

Over the years, the South African government, along with non-governmental organisations have pledge themselves in promoting access to education through bursaries and subsidized programs. Through these interventions, the higher educational sector in the country has experienced a rise in admission. Although South Africa has produced a number of graduates, most of these graduates remain unemployed and depressed, while some look for employment out of the country. This linkage does not only leave South Africa wanting but it also poses a threat to the economy and the reputation of the higher educational sector. This paper aims to explore the imbalance between demand and supply of critical skills in South Africa focusing mainly in the city of Johannesburg. Using a mixed methodology, the researcher will implore a qualitative research method, which will involve the review of existing research around the theme. This will determine what contributes to the imbalance in order to establish what interventions can address it. The study seeks to understand the relationship between of higher education and companies in the demand and supply of critical skills in South Africa. Furthermore, it aims to establish the role of skill retainment in balancing the demand and supply for critical skills. Understanding the imbalance between the demand and supply of critical skills in the country will initiate innovative ways in which strategies can be developed to close the gap between the two. While the aim of the researcher is not to bridge the gap between demand and supply of critical skills but to recommend best methods to enhance the critical skills demand and supply in South Africa. This will contribute in minimising brain drain, while also placing the country on a global scale when it comes to skills retainment.