Executive Summary South Africa doesn’t have a job shortage — it has a skills shortage . Employers aren’t struggling to find people; they’re struggling to find job‑ready skills . According to the South African Qualifications Authority ( SAQA ) , accredited vocational programmes are the fastest way to close this gap (SAQA). The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations ( QCTO ) confirms that occupational qualifications are designed to meet industry demand ( QCTO ), while merS