9 Trades South Africa Can't Find Enough Of, and the Routes to Qualifying

Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels

Ask South African employers which skills they struggle to hire and artisans consistently come up near the top.

In the preliminary results of Xpatweb's 2026 Critical Skills Survey, published on 22 September, artisans were tied with ICT specialists as the second-hardest skill to recruit, cited by 25% of employers. Of the employers short of artisans, 77% said the qualification they want most is a Trade Certificate, and more than half want candidates with three to five years' experience.

That second point matters. Plenty of people work in trades without the paperwork. The shortage is of qualified, certified artisans.

The 9 trades

All nine are on the Department of Higher Education and Training's 2024 National List of Occupations in High Demand, with a national certificate (NQF level 4) listed as the usual minimum qualification. An asterisk (*) means the official list flags a large number of unemployed people who say they do this work, so a Trade Certificate and experience are what will set you apart.

1. Electrician*

Installs, maintains and repairs electrical systems in homes, businesses, mines and factories. It's also a common starting point for solar and energy work.

2. Millwright

Combines mechanical and electrical skills to install and maintain industrial machinery, often in mining and manufacturing.

3. Fitter and turner*

Makes, fits and repairs machine parts, using lathes and other machine tools to produce precise components.

4. Diesel mechanic*

Services and repairs diesel engines in trucks, buses, mining equipment and generators.

5. Welder*

Joins metal parts for construction, manufacturing, pipelines and repairs. Different welding methods and materials lead to different specialisations.

6. Plumber*

Installs and maintains water supply, drainage and gas systems in homes and buildings.

7. Rigger*

Sets up the ropes, cables, hoists and cranes used to lift and move heavy loads safely on construction, mining and industrial sites.

8. Instrument mechanician

Installs, calibrates and maintains the instruments that measure and control industrial processes, such as pressure, temperature and flow.

9. Mechatronics technician

Works on automated systems that combine mechanical, electrical and computer control, such as production lines and robotics.

The four routes to qualifying

According to the Department of Higher Education and Training's artisan development site, there are several ways to become a qualified artisan. Every route ends in the same place: passing a trade test at an accredited trade test centre.

Route 1: Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship combines theory at a training provider or TVET college with practical work under a qualified artisan as your mentor.

• Entry: the official artisan site lists a minimum of Grade 9 or an N2 certificate in the relevant trade. Many employers set higher requirements, so check each advert.
• How long: the official artisan site mentions both a four-year apprenticeship programme and durations of 18 to 36 months. The length depends on the trade and how much training you already have, so ask the employer or provider.
• The end: a trade test.

Route 2: Learnership

A learnership combines structured learning with work experience and leads to a registered qualification. The official artisan site says learnerships are open to people aged 16 to 35, including school leavers, college students and unemployed people. Learners who aren't already employed receive an allowance while they train. (See our guide to learnerships, internships and graduate programmes.)

Route 3: TVET college

TVET colleges offer the National Certificate (Vocational), known as NC(V), and NATED (N1 to N6) courses linked to artisan trades. Courses run from a semester to three years. On their own, they give you the theory; you'll still need workplace experience before you can take a trade test.

Route 4: Artisan Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL)

This is the route most people don't know about. If you've been working in a trade for years without a formal qualification, ARPL lets you get your skills recognised without starting from scratch.

The official requirements:

• you must be at least 19
• you must have worked in the trade for at least 36 months
• there are no specific education requirements, though you should bring any certificates you have

You apply at a trade test centre accredited for your trade. You'll be helped to put together a portfolio of evidence, which is assessed by a technical panel that includes at least one qualified artisan in your trade. If it meets the requirements, you go on to the trade test.

The trade test and your Trade Certificate

Trade testing is regulated nationally, with NAMB quality-assuring the standards. Once you pass, you receive a Trade Certificate from the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). That's the document 77% of employers short of artisans in Xpatweb's survey said they're looking for.

Red flags when choosing a course

• The course doesn't lead to a trade test. Ask directly: "Will this prepare me for, and give me access to, a trade test at an accredited centre?"
• The provider can't name its accreditation. Check it before you pay. (Our guide to studying while you work explains how to check that a college is registered.)
• Someone promises a Trade Certificate without a trade test. Trade Certificates are issued by the QCTO only after you've passed.

The bottom line

Trades offer one of the clearest routes from training to work in South Africa, because employers are actively looking for certified artisans. Whether you're leaving school, studying at a TVET college or already doing the work without the paper, there's a route to a Trade Certificate. Pick your trade, find an accredited provider or trade test centre, and start building the proof employers want.