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Critical skills jobs in South Africa
Explore occupations on the Critical Skills List and related vacancies.
About the Critical Skills List
The Critical Skills List is the government's list of 142 occupations in high demand in South Africa: Government Gazette 49402, Notice R. 3934 of 3 October 2023, made under section 19(4) of the Immigration Act. As of October 2026, Home Affairs still links it and has published no newer list.
View official source Home Affairs: critical skills visa
An occupation being listed does not confirm a vacancy or visa eligibility.
Occupation categories
Explore occupations from the Critical Skills List by category.
ICT and digital 462 open jobsMultimedia designer, ICT systems analyst, Data scientist and more.
Engineering, architecture and planning 231 open jobsIndustrial engineer, Industrial engineering technologist, Civil engineer and more.
- Industrial engineer6
- Industrial engineering technologistnone
- Civil engineer73
- Civil engineering technologist2
- Mechanical engineer31
- Mechanical engineering technologistnone
- Aeronautical engineernone
- Aeronautical engineering technologistnone
- Naval architectnone
- Chemical engineer2
- Chemical engineering technologistnone
- Mining engineer1
- Metallurgist2
- Biomedical engineernone
- Quantity surveyor44
- Agricultural engineernone
- Agricultural engineering technologistnone
- Electrical engineering technologistnone
- Energy engineer3
- Energy engineering technologistnone
- Electronics engineer5
- Architect9
- Urban and regional planner1
- Chemistry techniciannone
- Town planning techniciannone
- Electronic engineering technician2
- Mechanical engineering technician4
- Draughtsperson47
Natural and earth sciences 25 open jobsPhysicist, Climate change scientist, Chemist and more.
- Physicist1
- Climate change scientistnone
- Chemist7
- Geologist3
- Geophysicist1
- Materials scientistnone
- Mineralogistnone
- Hydrologist6
- Oceanographernone
- General biologistnone
- Biotechnologistnone
- Microbiologistnone
- Zoologistnone
- Agricultural scientist4
- Food and beverage scientist2
- Conservation scientist1
- Environmental scientist2
Finance, economics and business 132 open jobsActuary, Tax professional, External auditor and more.
Specialist medicine, nursing and veterinary 142 open jobsSpecialist nurse educator, Specialist dentist, Specialist dentist and more.
- Specialist nurse educator8
- Specialist dentist: community dentistrynone
- Specialist dentist: maxillo and oral pathologynone
- Specialist dentist: maxillo-facial and oral surgerynone
- Specialist dentist: oral medicine and periodonticsnone
- Specialist dentist: prosthodonticsnone
- Medical specialist: anaesthesiologynone
- Medical specialist: cardiothoracic surgerynone
- Medical specialist: clinical pharmacologynone
- Medical specialist: public health medicinenone
- Medical specialist: dermatology1
- Medical specialist: diagnostic radiologynone
- Medical specialist: emergency medicinenone
- Medical specialist: internal medicine3
- Medical specialist: neurologynone
- Medical specialist: neurosurgerynone
- Medical specialist: obstetrics and gynaecologynone
- Medical specialist: ophthalmologynone
- Medical specialist: orthopaedicsnone
- Medical specialist: otorhinolaryngology (ENT)none
- Medical specialist: paediatrics1
- Medical specialist: anatomical pathology1
- Medical specialist: chemical pathologynone
- Medical specialist: clinical pathologynone
- Medical specialist: forensic pathology1
- Medical specialist: haematological pathologynone
- Medical specialist: microbiological pathologynone
- Medical specialist: virological pathologynone
- Medical specialist: plastic and reconstructive surgery1
- Medical specialist: psychiatrynone
- Medical specialist: radiation oncologynone
- Medical specialist: general surgery1
- Medical specialist: urology2
- Registered nurse: intensive and critical care55
- Registered nurse: mental health (psychiatric)4
- Registered nurse: peri-operative (theatre)43
- Registered nurse: emergency and trauma17
- Registered nurse: child (paediatric) nursing11
- Registered nurse: midwife specialist5
- Industrial pharmacistnone
- Veterinariannone
- Veterinary nursenone
STEM teaching and lecturing 14 open jobsUniversity lecturer, FET phase teacher, Senior phase teacher.
Trades 40 open jobsAir-conditioning and refrigeration mechanic, Metal machinist, Millwright and more.
Management 250 open jobsDirector, Policy and planning manager, Corporate general manager and more.
- Director (medium or larger enterprise)7
- Policy and planning manager3
- Corporate general manager (medium or larger enterprise)28
- Programme or project manager127
- Quality systems manager12
- Customer service manager (business process outsourcing)3
- Research and development manager1
- Manufacturing operations manager24
- Engineering manager11
- Supply and distribution manager27
- Chief information officer2
- Data management manager3
- Environmental managernone
- Call or contact centre manager2
Contact centre languages 14 open jobsInbound contact centre consultant, Outbound contact centre consultant.
Aviation 0 open jobsOccupational instructor, Air traffic controller.
Featured occupations
Examples from the Critical Skills List: the occupations with the most open jobs right now. Explore the full list above.
Software developer
Researches requirements for software, then designs, builds, tests and maintains it.
View related jobsProgramme or project manager
Plans, directs and coordinates programmes or projects.
View related jobsCivil engineer
Plans, designs and oversees civil engineering projects such as structures, transport and water systems.
View related jobsRegistered nurse: intensive and critical care
A registered nurse who cares for critically ill patients in an intensive or critical care unit.
View related jobs
Newest critical skills jobs
Open vacancies in South Africa whose titles name an occupation on the list.
Customer Service and Logistics Manager
- Centurion
Cybersecurity Assurance and Compliance Specialist
- Johannesburg
Electrical Draughtsman
- Westville, South Africa
Logistics Manager
- Eastern Cape
Logistics Manager (Customer Service, Exports & Warehousing)
- Pretoria
Senior / Principal Software Engineer — Data Platform
- Network Recruitment
- Johannesburg Metropolitan Area
Each links to its original advert. A title match is a guide, not a visa decision: Home Affairs decides each application.
Official occupation categories
The occupations, numbers and OFO codes on these pages are from the gazette, each with the minimum qualification and professional registration it needs; the one-line descriptions summarise its own.
View the official sourceJobs listed on Honde
Every morning Honde reads South African job boards, employers' careers pages and government circulars, and matches each job's title to the occupations on the list, so you can find roles that align with your skills.
A few things you might be wondering.
Clear answers about the Critical Skills List and related vacancies.
What is the Critical Skills List?
The occupations the Minister of Home Affairs has declared critical for South Africa under section 19(4) of the Immigration Act. The list in force, with 142 occupations, was published as Notice R. 3934 in Government Gazette 49402 of 3 October 2023. Someone with the qualifications and experience for one of these occupations can apply for a critical skills work visa, which needs a job offer from a verifiable employer. A job on these pages doesn't mean you qualify: Home Affairs decides each application.
Are there always vacancies for occupations on the list?
No. The list names occupations the country is short of, not open jobs. Honde shows the open jobs in South Africa whose titles name each occupation, and some have none at a given time. Some adverts are open only to South African citizens or permanent residents, so read the requirements in the original advert.
Where does the information come from?
The occupations, numbers and OFO codes are from the Government Gazette, and the one-line descriptions summarise its own. The jobs come from South African job boards, employers' careers pages and government vacancy circulars, read every morning; listings drop off once they close.
What qualifications are needed for these occupations?
The gazette gives each occupation's minimum qualification and, where the law requires it, the professional body you must be registered with. Home Affairs also asks for a SAQA evaluation of foreign qualifications. Requirements change: check with Home Affairs or a registered immigration practitioner before you apply.
Find roles that fit your skills.
Search for jobs on Honde and discover opportunities that match your experience and career goals.