Skilled South Africans are leaving – but this is why many come back

Although South Africa may be losing skilled workers to emigration – many are also returning home after living overseas.

Skilled South Africans looking to move internationally have been reported on extensively, with the issues of load shedding, challenges in finding employment, and crime all contributing to the mass exodus.

Simonne Adcock, Generalist Senior Recruiter at REDi Recruitment, previously told BusinessTech that emigration has been seen in many industries in South Africa, such as IT/Digital, Banking and Engineering.

South Africans are actively looking for chances to move abroad – or work remotely for multinational companies in South Africa – with international corporations also looking to poach local talent.

Adcock added that there has been a rise in people looking for second passports, noting that it is far easier for someone with more than just a South African passport to secure a job overseas.

In terms of where people are going, Natalie Lotter, Engineering Recruiter at the REDi Holbourne Group, said that emigrating engineers are going to the UK, Australia and Germany.

Nicole Ramos from REDi Recruitment added that the UK, Canada and the Netherlands are also popular destinations for IT professionals.

Not all sunshine and roses

Despite many skilled South Africans leaving, many are also returning home for a plethora of reasons.

Speaking to the SABC, Adcock said that one of the key reasons expats return home is for family, as their families are still based in South Africa.

She also noted that life internationally may be more challenging for South Africans than they realised.

“The standard of living might be higher (internationally), but the way we live in terms of space and freedom – security issues aside – South Africans actually have a pretty great way of life, and people miss that abroad,” she said.

Stop the brain drain

To counter the loss of skills facing South Africa, Adcock said that South Africa needs to invest heavily in infrastructure – this is especially the case when it comes to electricity generation.

She added that load shedding has made it extremely difficult to do online meetings, let alone run an organisation.

Corporations may also have to reevaluate how they treat their talent in terms of development and retention.

“It doesn’t help if you know as a South Africa with an engineering degree that you can have it better elsewhere,” she said.

She previously said that to keep local talent contributing to the South African economy; companies could look at remote working models or use third-party payroll systems for employees living abroad.

“More companies are realising to keep the talent and brains in South Africa, they need to be adaptable and to be flexible for employees’ needs and wants. Some are even retaining valuable employees by allowing them to be based abroad yet working for South African companies,” Adcock said.

Read: Trouble ahead for remote workers earning dollars and pounds in South Africa