Original Research

Macro and micro challenges for talent retention in South Africa

Berenice Kerr-Phillips, Adèle Thomas
SA Journal of Human Resource Management | Vol 7, No 1 | a157 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v7i1.157 | © 2009 Berenice Kerr-Phillips, Adèle Thomas | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 July 2008 | Published: 07 August 2009

About the author(s)

Berenice Kerr-Phillips, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Adèle Thomas, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Full Text:

PDF (771KB)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore the challenges presented in retaining South Africa’s talent at both macro (country) and micro (organisational) levels. Using a web-based survey placed on eight New Zealand sites, the reasons for emigration of South African talent during the period 1994–2006 were explored with 84 respondents. Utilising a purposive sampling technique, 20 semi-structured interviews were undertaken with identified ‘top talent’ in two financial services companies. Content analysis of the responses from both samples was employed. Reasons for emigration (macro issues) included uncertainty about the future of the country, job insecurity and fears regarding both corruption and violent crime. Reasons for talent loss amongst identified top talent (micro issues) were found to be linked to leadership, organisational culture and employment equity.

Keywords

New Zealand; achievers; talent attrition; leadership; emigration

Metrics

Total abstract views: 12862
Total article views: 13976

 

Crossref Citations

1. Leadership contingencies in the retention of women in higher education
Mariette Coetzee, Maryam Moosa
SA Journal of Human Resource Management  vol: 18  year: 2020  
doi: 10.4102/sajhrm.v18i0.1326

2. Exploring excellence in leadership perceptions amongst South African managers
Samir Shrivastava, Christopher Selvarajah, Denny Meyer, Nirmala Dorasamy
Human Resource Development International  vol: 17  issue: 1  first page: 47  year: 2014  
doi: 10.1080/13678868.2013.857510

3. Staff Perception of Leader Emotional Competency as a Predictor of Satisfaction with Retention Factors
Melinde Coetzee, Desiree Pauw
Journal of Psychology in Africa  vol: 23  issue: 2  first page: 177  year: 2013  
doi: 10.1080/14330237.2013.10820613

4. The Use of Information Communication Technologies in a South African Deaf Older Adult Population Living in a Residential Care Home to Communicate with Emigrant Family Members
Victor de Andrade, Maria Marchetti-Mercer, Mariam Omar
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology  vol: 37  issue: 3  first page: 275  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1007/s10823-022-09457-z

5. Perceptions of human resource professionals of challenges to and strategies for retaining managers
Danielle Uitzinger, Pharny Chrysler-Fox, Adèle Thomas
Acta Commercii  vol: 18  issue: 1  year: 2018  
doi: 10.4102/ac.v18i1.504

6. Self-esteem, employability attributes, and retention factors of employees within the financial sector
Ingrid L. Potgieter, Lemakatso Mawande
Journal of Psychology in Africa  vol: 27  issue: 5  first page: 393  year: 2017  
doi: 10.1080/14330237.2017.1347771

7. A “coalesced framework” of talent management and employee performance
James Kwame Mensah
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management  vol: 64  issue: 4  first page: 544  year: 2015  
doi: 10.1108/IJPPM-07-2014-0100

8. Evaluating technological and instructional factors influencing the acceptance of AIGC-assisted design courses
Qianling Jiang, Yuzhuo Zhang, Wei Wei, Chao Gu
Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence  vol: 7  first page: 100287  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1016/j.caeai.2024.100287