CHAPTER 6: THE SURVEY: DATA ANALYSIS
6.5 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
6.5.1 Demographic profile
6.5.1.1 Gender
The gender distribution of the sample shows a slight marginal domination by female respondents (54%) (refer to Figure 6.3). This distribution differs slightly from the qualitative phase of this study where male participants were more likely to participate in the interviews.
It seemed that male participants were more likely to participate in the qualitative phase, because they were speaking on behalf of their families, since men are traditionally the "head"
of the household in South African culture.
Figure 6.3: Gender distribution (N = 249)
45%
55%
Gender distribution (N = 249)
Male Female
6.5.1.2 Race
The distribution of race indicates that almost all of the respondents (94.5%) are white (refer to Figure 6.4). The race distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where all participants in the interviews and focus group were white.
Figure 6.4: Race distribution (N = 251)
6.5.1.3 Age
The age distribution indicates that the majority (67%) of the respondents are between 35 and 54 years old (refer to Figure 6.5). This result indicates that the respondents are of the age where work experience has already been acquired. This distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where the vast majority of participants in Australia relate to these age groups. The ages of the participants in the qualitative phase from New Zealand were slightly younger with ranges between 26 and 34, as well as 35 and 44 years old.
0% 3% 1%
96%
Race distribution (N = 251)
Black Coloured Indian White
Figure 6.5: Current age distribution (in years) (N = 252)
6.5.1.4 Age distribution at time of emigration
The distribution of the age that the respondents were at the time of emigration from South Africa indicates that the respondents were mostly between 45 – 54 years old (41%), with a slightly lower percentage of respondents between 35 – 44 years old (36%) (refer to Figure 6.6). This distribution shows that older respondents (therefore, most likely the repondents with the most work experience) were more likely to emigrate from South Africa. This distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where the vast majority of participants relate to these age groups.
1%
13%
34%
33%
17%
2%
Current age distribution (N = 252)
18-25 26-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Figure 6.6: Age distribution at the time of emigration (in years) (N = 246)
6.5.1.5 Educational qualification
The distribution of the highest educational qualification indicates that (refer to Figure 6.7) a large majority (91%) of the respondents have post-matric qualifications. This distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where the majority of participants in the interviews and focus groups had a diploma or a degree.
2%
5%
36%
41%
13%
3%
Age distribution at the time of emigration (N = 246)
18-25 26-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Figure 6.7: Highest qualification (N = 252)
6.5.1.6 Origin of educational qualification
More than three quarters of the respondents (83%) obtained their highest qualification in South Africa (refer to Figure 6.8). This indicates that the respondents obtained their qualification in South Africa, but then used that knowledge in another country. Thus, in this study, emigrants used their knowledge to the advantage of Australia's and New Zealand's economies. This distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where the majority of participants obtained their highest qualification in South Africa.
2% 7%
9%
22%
20%
9%
13%
14%
4%
Highest qualification (N = 252)
Less than Grade 12/Matric
Matric
Post matric certificate
Diploma
Degree
Postgraduate diploma
Honours degree
Masters degree
Doctoral degree
Figure 6.8: Country where the highest qualification has been obtained (N = 241)
6.5.1.7 Employment in South Africa
The vast majority of respondents (87%) were employed in South Africa at the time of emigration. Figure 6.9 shows that South Africa has lost the skills and contribution to the economy of more than eighty percent of the respondents in this study. This distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where the majority of participants were employed in South Africa at the time of emigration.
83%
12%
5%
Country where the highest qualification has been obtained (N = 241)
South Africa Australia New Zealand
Figure 6.9: Employed at the time of emigration (N = 241)
6.5.1.8 Source of employment in South Africa
More than three quarters of the respondents (79%) were employed in South Africa by an employer. Figure 6.10 also shows that more than twenty percent of the respondents were self-employed, thus were entrepreneurs, which means that they were more than likely to employ other people. This means that jobs in South Africa were probably lost when these respondents emigrated to Australia or New Zealand. This distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where the majority of participants were employed in South Africa by an employer at the time of emigration.
87%
13%
Employed at the time of emigration (N = 241)
Yes No
Figure 6.10: Source of employment at the time of emigration (N = 243)
6.5.1.9 Industry of employment in South Africa
Regarding last employment is South Africa, the highest percentage (13.3%) of respondents was in the information, media and telecommunications industry (refer to Figure 6.11). The South African Government has identified several scarce skills within the information, media and telecommunications industry in 2014 (Republic of South Africa. Department of Higher Education and Training, 2014:9) and 2015 (Republic of South Africa. Department of Higher Education and Training, 2016:12). The scarce skills list points out that South Africa has lost the skills of the respondents within an industry that have already been acknowledged as having dire shortages of skills and knowledge.
21%
79%
Source of employment at the time of emigration (N = 243)
Self-employed Employed by an employer
Figure 6.11: Industry of last employment in South Africa (N = 216)
6.5.1.10 Industry experience in South Africa
Figure 6.12 shows that the majority of respondents (65.3%) had between no experience in the relevant industry in South Africa and fifteen years of experience before leaving South Africa. This distribution corresponds with the qualitative phase of this study where the majority of participants were employed in the relevant industry in South Africa between six and fifteen years at the time of emigration.
2.4%
Industry of last employment in South
Africa
Figure 6.12: Experience in the industry in South Africa (in number of years) (N = 245)
6.5.1.11 Industry of employment in the migration destination
The two industries in which the highest percentage of respondents (12.9%) were employed in Australia and New Zealand are shown in Figure 6.13, being education and training (12.9%) and information, media and telecommunication (11.8%). The Australian Government keeps an updated Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL) of scarce skills for which a State or Territory Government may nominate a migrant by sponsoring the migrant's visa to live and work in Australia (Australian Visa Bureau, 2017). The CSOL has identified several scarce skills within the education and training industry. The New Zealand Government has a Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) that identifies professions with a complete shortage of skilled workers both globally and throughout New Zealand (New Zealand Government. New Zealand Immigration, 2017a). The LTSSL did not identify any shortages in skills in the education and training industry (New Zealand Government. New Zealand Immigration, 2017a). The New Zealand Government similarly has an Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) that identifies professions with a shortage of skilled workers throughout New Zealand or in certain regions (New Zealand Government. New Zealand Immigration, 2017b). Conversely, the ISSL identified scarce skills within the education and training industry (New Zealand Government. New Zealand Immigration, 2017b).
20.8%
Experience in the industry in South Africa
(in number of years)
Figure 6.13: Industry of employment in the migration destination 3.1%
2.4%
4.7%
2.7%
1.6%2.0%
5.1%
0.0%
3.1%
11.8%
5.1%
1.2%
7.5%
3.5%
0.8%
12.9%
9.0%
0.8%
0.0%
2.0%
4.0%
6.0%
8.0%
10.0%
12.0%
14.0%