South Africa 'bleeding' skilled labor

South Africa is experiencing an exodus of health workers -- much more than previously thought -- according to a report published by the Southern African Migration Project.

"South Africa is bleeding skilled personnel at an accelerating rate," it said. The report is based on detailed analysis of multinational advertising by both governments and the private sector in the South African Medical Journal from 2000 through 2004.

Most professionals in South Africa leave for countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.

Most advertisements were for positions in the UK, at 35.5 percent of the 2,522 advertisements lodged during the five year period with New Zealand coming in second, followed by Australia, and Canada.

In 2001, a total of 23,407 South African healthcare professionals were working in the top five destination countries.

A recent report in March by the Centry for Development and Enterprise recommended that the government adopt more positive attitudes towards immigration to South Africa and for the country to increase its own marketing drives.