As South Africa marks Youth Month, the construction sector finds itself at a critical inflection point: infrastructure investment is accelerating, but the skilled professionals needed to deliver it are in short supply, and those already in the industry are increasingly difficult to retain.

The sector created 130,000 new jobs in the third quarter of 2025, nearly half of all new employment generated nationally during that period. With Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson pointing to R14 billion worth of projects currently underway, demand for skilled professionals will only intensify.

According to Dumisani Madi of GVK-Siya Zama, the sector faces a dual challenge: too few experienced professionals entering the pipeline, and an accelerating loss of those already in it.

"South Africa has an opportunity to address two urgent challenges at once: youth unemployment and the construction skills shortage. But we have to be intentional. Investing in practical skills development and workplace experience is not optional: it is what will determine whether our industry can deliver on the country's infrastructure ambitions," says Madi.

Senior roles including Contracts Managers, Site Agents and Senior Site Agents are among the most difficult to fill. Retaining skilled professionals has become as pressing a concern as recruiting them, with experienced staff increasingly mobile between employers and, in many cases, pursuing opportunities abroad.

The company's response has been to invest upstream through its in-service training programme, placing students directly into active construction environments. In 2026, the company welcomed numerous students from tertiary institutions to its well-established in-service programme. Madi supports this approach of expanding pathways through apprenticeships, learnerships and TVET college partnerships.

Mentorship is central to making these pathways work. GVK-Siya Zama has made the transfer of institutional knowledge a structured priority, embedding experienced leaders in a coaching role so practical expertise is passed on, not lost.

"When someone with years of experience takes the time to guide a young professional, it accelerates their growth in ways that formal training simply cannot replicate. That is how you build confidence, and ultimately, how you build an industry," says Madi.

The proof is visible within the company. Several senior staffers began their careers as in-service students within the business. For our organisation, investing in young talent early has proven as good for the business as it is for the individual.

"The momentum in the sector is encouraging. But sustainable growth depends on having the right people to deliver projects safely and to a high standard. If we want South Africa's infrastructure ambitions to become reality, the work starts now, with training, mentorship, and giving young people a genuine stake in the future of this industry," concludes Madi.