- Whereas the financial sector is expected to account for almost one-third of the growth in the demand for professionals. It is expected to account for less than 5% of the growth in the demand for managers. In fact, the banking sub-sector is expected to reduce its number of managers since the average level of personnel employed is likely to rise dramatically, which means that the sector will require fewer managers. The insurance sub-sector is also expected to employ fewer of managers.
- The trade sector is expected to account for the greatest growth in managerial employment, which will be almost evenly shared between the retail and wholesale sub-sector on the one hand and the accommodation and catering sub-sector on the other. These sectors are highly labour intensive and much of the employment growth will arise from the opening up of new establishments, such as new retail outlets or hotels. These establishments require proper management and growth in the trade sector will therefore give rise to an increased need for managers.
- A modest increase in the number of managers is expected in the services sector, due mainly to the growth in demand for managers by government and community and social services. Collectively, the services sector should account for more than 12% of the growth in managerial employment.
- A flattening of management structures is also expected in a number of manufacturing sub-sectors. As in the case of the banking sub-sector, these sub-sectors are expected to see an increase in the average skill level of employees, as the manufacturing firms will employ more professionals and fewer semiskilled and unskilled workers, and thus require fewer managers.
- Modest levels of growth in management are expected in the construction and the transport and communications sectors, while negative growth is expected in the mining and electricity sectors. The latter two sectors are both likely to rationalise their total human resource complements.
- Shortages seem to exist especially in the administrative and technical areas of management. Within the administrative category, finance and sales featured prominently.
- Organisations are specifically interested in multi-skilled managers with an understanding of business and the industry in which they operate. The combination of technical skills (relevant to the specific industry), business and financial skills and "people skills" (e.g. leadership and the ability to manage organisational change processes) are often cited as being in short supply.
- Experienced and skilled black managers are hard to find, while stricter labour legislation increased the pressure on organisations to employ more black people in the higher skills categories. The scarcity of these managers put upward pressure on remuneration packages.
