Artificial intelligence and emerging-technology specialists have entered South Africa’s list of most difficult-to-fill skills for the first time in nearly a decade, according to preliminary findings from the Xpatweb 2026 Critical Skills Survey. The survey shows that 22% of participating employers reported problems recruiting for AI and related roles, placing the category fourth among shortages.
Project management shortages also prominent
Senior project management functions — grouped under strategic, operational and project management skills — were cited by 19% of respondents and ranked fifth on the list. Xpatweb’s managing director, Marisa Jacobs, said the survey is South Africa’s largest employer-led assessment of where skills are scarce and that its findings inform policy discussions around immigration and the national Critical Skills List.
The survey is conducted annually and reflects responses from small and medium enterprises, large corporates and multinationals. Jacobs said the findings are shared with relevant government departments to guide which occupations should appear on the Critical Skills List, which in turn affects the treatment and processing of work visa applications for skilled foreign workers. The last full update to that list was in February 2022, with a subsequent amendment in October 2023.
What the numbers mean for businesses and policy
Employers and policymakers face several immediate consequences as AI roles rise on the critical-skills ledger:
- Recruitment difficulty for AI and emerging-technology positions is now measurable at the national level, signalling pressure on local talent pipelines.
- Organisations may increasingly seek foreign talent to fill urgent vacancies if the Critical Skills List is adjusted to prioritise AI roles.
- Wage pressure is likely to increase for skilled roles; international studies referenced by Xpatweb show a clear premium for AI skills.
Xpatweb’s report references international research to underline global demand. In September 2026 the US-based Bipartisan Policy Centre, citing Lightcast data, found US online job postings mentioning AI skills rose by 165% year-on-year. Separately, the Centre for Economic Policy Research in Europe indicated roles requiring AI specialist skills command an average global wage premium of up to 62%.
Why this shift matters
South Africa’s economy is intertwined with global tech labour markets. When demand for a set of skills rises internationally, local employers must compete with foreign firms and remote opportunities, often offering higher pay and more flexible terms. The emergence of AI and emerging-technology skills on the Xpatweb list suggests a convergence between local employer needs and global trends.
For government, the survey provides empirical input for immigration and skills policy. Updating the Critical Skills List can speed up the hiring of foreign specialists by easing visa constraints, but it is a policy lever with trade-offs. Relying on imported talent without parallel investment in local skills development may leave structural gaps.
What businesses can do now
The survey’s early findings point to practical steps employers can take while longer-term solutions — such as curriculum adjustments and training incentives — take effect:
- Invest in upskilling and reskilling current staff to close immediate gaps in AI-adjacent roles.
- Adjust recruitment strategies to tap into non-traditional talent pools and partnerships with training providers.
- Consider targeted use of foreign specialists for knowledge transfer rather than long-term dependency.
Jacobs emphasised the role the survey plays in informing both employers and government institutions about where interventions are required. The preliminary results will feed into consultation processes as the Critical Skills List is reviewed and updated.
The Xpatweb survey’s entry of AI and emerging-technology roles among the hardest-to-fill categories underlines a national crossroads: South African employers must respond to a global surge in demand for tech skills, while policy-makers must balance immigration settings and local skills development to avoid persistent shortages and rising wage pressure.
