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Johannesburg - The majority of graduate professionals are confident about staying in South Africa, according to a survey released on Thursday.
"Graduate professionals occupy key occupations such as
accountancy, engineering, medicine and law, many of which have a skills
shortage, so it is very significant to see these people are confident of
remaining in South Africa," said Gerhard Joubert, head of group marketing
at financial services provider PPS.
The PPS survey tracked the confidence levels of over 4 000
South African graduate professionals on issues such as emigration, crime,
healthcare, investment markets and opportunities available to them in their
chosen professions.
According to the 2011 first-quarter results, a confidence
level of 84% was recorded for remaining in South Africa.
Joubert said this could be attributed to various factors
including South Africa's economy weathering the global financial crisis, its
inclusion in the Bric - Brazil, Russia, India, China - economic group of
nations, the relatively stable political climate, opportunities available to
graduate professionals due to skills shortages and the successful hosting of
the World Cup.
"The current turmoil that is also taking place in a
number of European countries in light of the sovereign debt crises may also
have shown some South Africans that were considering a move that the grass is
not always greener," he said.
Respondents, who had an average age of 43, showed an overall
confidence level of 77% when asked about the opportunities available to
practitioners working in their profession over the next 12 months.
However, they were concerned about crime - with a 45%
confidence level that the situation would improve over the next five years.
Unemployment was also a concern, with confidence levels at
46%.
The future of the healthcare system and the standard of education over the next five years each scored a confidence level of 50%.
