The United Kingdom (UK) is feeling the pinch of its skills shortage, and South African talent is at the top of the list, with some jobs offering million rand salaries.
In 2024, the UK is experiencing significant skills shortages across various sectors, exacerbated by the lingering effects of Brexit, the pandemic, and an ageing workforce.
The UK government has acknowledged these challenges, particularly in critical areas like healthcare, engineering, and technology.
In a recent parliamentary Q&A, UK Parliament member Baroness Barran noted that one-third of UK vacancies are due to skills shortages.
Sectors with large shortages include construction, information technology and communications.
The UK’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) added that skills shortages in technical and engineering disciplines are set to worsen, and there is also a notable shortage of senior business positions.
The shortage of skilled workers is putting pressure on businesses and public services, leading to increased competition for talent.
To address this, the UK government regularly updates its Shortage Occupation List.
The UK government maintains a list of occupations that are deemed to be in short supply in the UK, which include those mentioned previously.
Employers can use this list to hire and sponsor overseas workers in these roles under more favourable criteria than for roles that are not on the list.
Considering these in-demand professions, BusinessTech looked at the annual salaries you can earn as outlined by the UK government.
Some of the top-paid in-demand jobs include marketing professionals and directors, doctors, and financial managers and directors.
The jobs range from R1.63 million to R2 million.
IT specialists and engineers are also sought after, and they offer R1 million in salaries.
The table below lists 10 jobs listed on the UK’s Shortage Occupation List and what they pay per annum.
| Job | Standard annual salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Professional/Director | £83,000 (R1.93 million) |
| Doctor | £74,800 (R1.74 million) |
| Financial managers and directors | £70,000 (R1.63 million) |
| Senior police officers | £59,100 (R1.37 million) |
| Solicitor | £57,200 (R1.33 million) |
| Software Developer | £50,440 (R1.17 million) |
| Architect | £48,800 (R1.13 million) |
| Mechanical Engineer | £47,840 (R1.11 million) |
| Nurse | £40,560 (R942,000) |
| Construction and building trades | £30,960 (R719,000) |
Scouting South Africans
The UK’s parliament discussions also noted that the global demand for skilled professionals worsens the skills situation, with countries like Canada and Australia competing for the same talent pool—including South Africans.
Canadian immigration consultant Nicholas Avramis from Beaver Immigration said there is a race in the global north to recruit highly qualified workers, and South Africans are among those on the list.
He added that this is especially true for healthcare and engineering professionals.
According to digital outsourcing and consulting firm Strider Digital, South Africa is among the UK’s first choices for talent scouting.
According to the firm, South Africans are outsourced due to their high standard of education and experience, work ethic, diversity, culture, and time zone.
“South Africa is home to a highly educated and skilled workforce, with many individuals holding degrees in IT, software development, business and marketing,” said business development consultant at Strider Digital Bjorn Annegarn.
“Our country has been favoured as a fast-developing outsourcing industry for a few years now.
“In 2020, McKinsey named South Africa the second most attractive Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) location in the world and predicted that over the next few years, the sector would grow by 3% per annum,” he added.
Strider Digital’s CEO, Annabel Dallamore, also noted the allure of South Africa’s work ethic and hours.
According to OECD data, the average South African works 43.3 hours per week. This puts them at the fifth highest in the world.
However, it is also generally known that many workers work hours well above the maximum limit stipulated by labour law.
This strong and dedicated work ethic results in workers who blossom in fast-paced, ever-changing environments and are always willing to adapt, which is a very favourable characteristic, noted Dallamore.
“South Africa’s work culture aligns well with that of the UK.
“Professionals in South Africa enjoy collaboration, are open to diverse perspectives, and observe working constructs like being on time and prepared. Still, in the same breath, they are flexible too,” she said.
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