As South Africa’s Class of 2025 receives their results and institutions prepare to welcome a new intake of students, a critical challenge is becoming increasingly urgent.
The manufacturing sector is facing a growing shortage of skilled tradespeople, and the gap is widening fast.
Behind everyday products and infrastructure, this skills shortfall threatens productivity, innovation and long-term industrial sustainability.
Why the manufacturing skills gap is widening
Fewer young people are choosing technical careers in machining, toolmaking and mechanical engineering. For decades, university degrees have been positioned as the primary route to success, often at the expense of vocational and technical training.
As a result, skilled trades have become undervalued, despite being essential to industrial growth and innovation.
Modern machining is no longer manual or outdated. Today’s workshops rely on automation, CNC machinery, digital systems and high-precision engineering.
Yet many learners never encounter these environments. Reduced exposure to technical subjects at school, combined with limited career guidance, has narrowed the pipeline of emerging talent.
Economic pressure also shapes these choices. For families under financial strain, a subsidised university degree often appears more attainable than trade training.
This perception discourages many capable learners from pursuing technical careers, even as demand for these skills continues to rise.
“Machining is not a trade of the past. It’s a career of the future,” says Ruan Cowley, Managing Director of Knuth Machine Tools South Africa.
“These are high-tech, innovation-driven roles that form the backbone of modern manufacturing. We need to show young people what these careers offer and make technical training more accessible if we want to secure South Africa’s industrial future.”
Why the skills gap matters for the economy
As experienced machinists, toolmakers and engineers retire, too few qualified professionals are entering the workforce to replace them. This imbalance directly affects manufacturing output. Businesses struggle to meet demand, adopt new technologies or compete globally without the right skills in place.
Over time, the consequences extend far beyond individual factories. Skills shortages slow progress, limit innovation and weaken economic resilience. Without intervention, South Africa risks losing manufacturing capacity, global competitiveness and opportunities for sustainable job creation.
“At Knuth Machine Tools, having supported customers across every sector of the metalworking industry, we see firsthand how manufacturing strength depends on people,” says Cowley. “Machines matter, but it’s skilled operators and engineers who bring them to life.”
Machining as a foundation of modern life
Machining underpins far more of daily life than most people realise. Cars, aircraft, medical devices, smartphones and even essential infrastructure rely on precision-manufactured components.
Every part, regardless of size, must be produced accurately and consistently somewhere along the value chain. Machining enables scale, reliability and quality, making modern living possible. Without it, products would cost more, perform poorly or simply not exist.
“Machining is the quiet force that keeps economies moving,” Cowley explains. “It enables technological progress, supports new materials and designs, and makes complex engineering solutions achievable. This is not a support function. It is a foundational industry.”
Industry steps toward closing the gap
Addressing the skills shortage requires collaboration between industry, education and policymakers. Expanding access to technical training, improving career awareness and restoring the status of skilled trades are all essential steps.
“As an industry leader, Knuth Machine Tools is focused on supporting the next generation of skilled tradespeople,” says Cowley. “We have initiatives in development this year and beyond to help strengthen the skills pipeline. This challenge is solvable, but it requires action now.”
