A major unaddressed issue in the manufacturing industry remains a shortage of skills, said economic consultancy Econometrix director and chief economist Dr Azar Jammine in opening this year’s Manufacturing Indaba on October 24. South Africa has a mismatch between the skilled workforce needed in manufacturing and an abundance of no- to low-level skills. He noted that it was challenging to invest in and create a high-tech manufacturing industry while trying to absorb low-skilled workers.