November is here, and for many job seekers that means one last push before the year-end slowdown. This week brought a fresh look at the skills South African employers are struggling to find, a reminder that unpaid experience can still shorten your job hunt, a batch of government posts closing on Friday, and a twist in the AI-and-jobs story. Here’s what you need to know.
1. The skills South African employers can’t find
The Xpatweb 2026 Critical Skills Survey, released on 28 October, polled almost 400 employers. It found that 76% of companies in South Africa battle to recruit critical skills locally, and 67% are looking outside the country to fill key posts. That’s an improvement on 84% last year, but more than 70% of businesses say unfilled vacancies are hurting their operations badly.
Engineers top the list, especially mechanical, industrial and maintenance engineers, followed by ICT specialists (now a record 26% of employers report a shortage) and artisans such as electricians, millwrights and machinists. For the first time, AI and emerging technology skills (21%) and senior project managers (16%) made the top ten hardest-to-fill roles. Xpatweb MD Marisa Jacobs also pointed to so-called “power skills”, like critical thinking, managing change and adaptability. Source: Polity / Xpatweb
2. No experience? Volunteering could shorten your job hunt
Pnet’s October Job Market Trends Report looked at candidates who list volunteering on their profiles. For jobs that need a Matric, people with volunteering experience took about nine months to find work, compared with around 12 months for those without it. For diploma and degree roles, the gap was about a month. Young people aged 19 to 24 make up 56% of volunteering candidates.
There’s a catch: volunteering made almost no difference to salaries, except where it was closely linked to the person’s eventual job. Pnet’s head of data, Anja Bates, said it can be “particularly useful for young people who have not yet committed to a course of study or career path.” The report also noted month-on-month growth in hiring, with strong demand in Medical & Health, Warehousing & Logistics, and Building & Construction. Source: Bizcommunity / Pnet
3. The Department of Employment and Labour is hiring: apply by 6 November
On 30 October the Department of Employment and Labour shared a new list of vacancies. By Hypertext’s count there are 55 positions, and the new batch closes on 6 November. Sixteen of them are for the same role, Assistant Director: Labour Centre Operations (UIF). There are also posts for office aids, registry clerks, inspectors, client service officers, office administrators, a field ICT technician and employment service practitioners.
Hypertext warned that the department’s website was slow, so don’t leave your application to the last day. Source: Hypertext
4. R95.9 million to train 1,020 young people in KZN
The Department of Higher Education and Training, through the National Skills Fund, has approved a R95.9 million project to train young people in KwaZulu-Natal. Twenty apprentices will do a three-year aircraft maintenance engineering programme in uMgungundlovu, and 1,000 learners are working towards an NQF Level 3 wheel balancer qualification in Newcastle, Mooi River and Pietermaritzburg. Learners get monthly stipends, toolkits and protective gear.
Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube told learners: “We are not only training you to be employed. We are expecting some of you to employ others.” The department is also targeting more than 520,000 TVET enrolments and 22,000 artisan certifications for 2026/27. Source: SAnews
5. The AI layoffs that didn’t stick
Globally, more companies are naming AI when they cut jobs. Microsoft, Barclays and Kroger are among the latest. But an Associated Press report on 29 October found that some of these cuts are being reversed, a trend being called the “AI boomerang”. Klarna has gone back to hiring human customer service staff after relying heavily on an AI chatbot. Ford hired or promoted 350 veteran engineers after AI quality-control tools fell short of expectations, and those engineers now help improve the systems and catch problems before production.
The lesson? Human judgement, creativity and know-how built up over years on the job still count for a lot. Source: AP News
What this means for job seekers
- Look at the shortage lists. Engineering, ICT and trades like electrician and millwright are where employers are struggling most. If you’re choosing a course or a learnership, these areas give you a better chance of being hired.
- Put your volunteering on your CV. Church projects, NGO work, tutoring or community clean-ups all count. Explain what you did and which skills you built, especially if it links to the job you want.
- Act fast on government posts. The Labour Department batch closes on 6 November. Get your CV, certified copies and application form ready now.
- Don’t overlook artisan and TVET routes. Funded programmes with stipends, like the KZN project, can lead to scarce, well-paid trades. Some may even help you start your own business.
- Build skills AI can’t easily replace. Learn to use AI tools, but also work on judgement, problem-solving and practical, hands-on experience. Employers are finding they still need them.
Ready for your next move? Browse the latest vacancies from South African and international employers on Hired&Hire’s jobs page and apply today.
