WEBINAR
South Africa’s Critical Skills Shortages: What the 2026 Findings Mean for Your Business
The full results of Xpatweb’s Annual Critical Skills Survey
Date
3 November 2026
Time:
10:00 – 11:30 SAST
Fee:
Complimentary
Platform:
ZOOM
The Critical Skills Survey provides an evidence-based view of the skills South African employers are struggling to secure. But the value lies in understanding what these findings mean for the decisions businesses need to make next.
Join us to discover the skills employers are struggling to secure, the trends shaping recruitment and international talent mobility, and what the findings mean for your business planning in 2027.
What we will be unpacking:
- Which occupations and specialist skills are employers finding hardest to recruit.
- Which sectors are experiencing the most significant skills shortages.
- What has changed compared with previous survey findings.
- What do the findings mean for international recruitment and talent mobility.
- What should employers consider when planning their skills and recruitment priorities for 2027.
Who Should Attend?
Business Leaders, Executives and Employers
HR Directors and Human Resources Professionals
Talent Acquisition and Recruitment Specialists
Global Mobility Professionals
Legal, Tax and Employee Mobility Advisers
Industry Associations and Business Chambers
Employers Responsible for Recruiting and Retaining Specialist Skills
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Meet The Speakers
Marisa Jacobs
Managing Director of Xpatweb & Immigration Advisory Board (IAB) Member appointed by the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs, Representing Organised Business
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Marisa Jacobs is the Managing Director of Xpatweb, the premium immigration practice in South Africa. Recognised as an industry specialist in all work visa categories, under her leadership, Xpatweb’s Critical Skills Survey played an instrumental role in validating South Africa’s 2021 Critical Skills List.
She is the Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) appointed representative on the Minister of Home Affairs’ Immigration Advisory Board (IAB), which was formally re-established on 01 April 2025. Her role within the IAB includes engaging with key stakeholders across the private sector to ensure that business perspectives are meaningfully incorporated into the Board’s deliberations.
She also serves on BUSA and NEDLAC, while actively overseeing the practice on a day-to-day basis. With extensive experience in expatriate management, Marisa’s expertise extends beyond work visas. She pioneered the development of the Immigration Tracker, now widely adopted by South Africa’s largest expatriate employers.
Marisa’s solution-based methodologies include managing confidential payrolls for various expatriate groups, navigating SARS tax directives and rulings, securing Reserve Bank clearances for expatriates, and providing optimal banking solutions. Her profound passion for work visa matters is evident through her daily interactions with senior immigration officials and executives worldwide.
Keri Culver
Senior Immigration Consultant at Xpatweb
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Keri Culver has dedicated the past eight years to the immigration industry, gaining extensive experience in Canadian, South African, Australian, EU, UK, African, and Mauritian visa processes. She manages a large corporate client portfolio, ensuring tailored solutions for businesses and individuals alike. Her comprehensive knowledge, combined with her extensive travels, enables her to provide personalised and effective immigration strategies to clients worldwide. Keri takes pride in delivering exceptional client service, ensuring every individual’s journey through immigration is smooth and efficient.
Understanding where critical skills are needed today is an important starting point for planning recruitment, talent mobility and business priorities for 2027.
Join us to explore the findings of the 2026 Critical Skills Survey and gain valuable insights into South Africa’s evolving skills landscape.