South Africa’s Sector Education and Training Authorities each maintain their own current list of priority and scarce skills relevant to their specific sector, and these lists are what actually determine which training is genuinely in demand at any given time, rather than a fixed list that stays accurate for years.
Use this approach rather than trusting a static list of courses.
Identify the SETA relevant to your sector
There are SETAs covering specific sectors, from services to manufacturing to agriculture, and each publishes its own Sector Skills Plan identifying priority and scarce skills specific to that industry.
A business or employee should identify the correct SETA for their sector first, since training funding and priority skills lists differ meaningfully between sectors and applying to the wrong one wastes the effort.
Understand how training links to funding
Levy-paying employers can often recover a portion of training costs through their sector’s SETA, particularly for training aligned with that sector’s identified priority skills, which is a meaningful incentive to check the current list before choosing a course.
Discretionary grant funding for training, distinct from the mandatory levy-grant system, is also available through most SETAs and is worth investigating directly rather than assuming it isn’t relevant to a smaller employer.
Check current priority skills directly with the SETA
Priority and scarce skills lists are updated periodically as sectors evolve, so a course that was in demand two years ago may no longer be a funding priority, and a newer need may not yet be widely known.
Confirm the current list directly with your sector’s SETA rather than relying on an older article’s specific course recommendations, including this one.
Where to start
The Department of Higher Education and Training oversees the SETA system and can direct you to the correct sector authority if you’re unsure which one applies to your business.
Our guide to SETA funding covers the funding mechanism itself in more depth, alongside this guide’s focus on identifying which specific training is currently prioritised.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one fixed list of in-demand skills training?
No. Each Sector Education and Training Authority maintains its own current priority skills list specific to its sector, updated periodically.
How do I find the right SETA for my business?
By identifying your specific industry sector; SETAs are organised by sector, and training funding and priorities differ between them.
Can training costs be recovered?
Levy-paying employers can often recover a portion of training costs through their sector’s SETA, particularly for priority-skills-aligned training.
Is discretionary grant funding available for training?
Yes, distinct from the mandatory levy-grant system, and worth investigating directly with the relevant SETA.
Where should I confirm current priority skills?
Directly with your sector’s SETA, since lists are updated periodically and an older article’s specific recommendations may be outdated.
