MBABANE – Eswatini added nearly 11 000 jobs between 2023 and 2025, offering a rare sign of progress in a labour market long characterised by high unemployment.
The 2025 Integrated Labour Force Survey shows that the number of employed people increased from 260 356 in 2023 to 271 227 in 2025.
The gain of 10 871 jobs contributed to a decline in the national unemployment rate from 35.4 per cent to 33.5 per cent over the same period.
While the figures suggest that employment opportunities are expanding, the survey indicates that the benefits have not been evenly distributed across the economy.
The increase in employment comes at a time when more emaSwati are participating in the labour market.
The labour force grew from 402 909 people in 2023 to 407 715 in 2025, meaning the economy had to create jobs not only for existing job seekers, but also for thousands of new entrants.
As a result, the unemployment rate fell despite the increase in the number of people seeking work.
The survey suggests that much of the employment growth occurred in sectors that continue to dominate the country’s labour market.
Agriculture increased its share of employment from 21.1 per cent in 2023 to 24.5 per cent in 2025, making it one of the largest sources of jobs.
Market services, including wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services, remained the country’s largest employer, accounting for 26.8 per cent of all employment.
Non-market services such as government, education and health accounted for a further 24.5 per cent.
Together, the three sectors provided more than three-quarters of all jobs in the economy.
The figures suggest that employment growth was concentrated in traditional labour-intensive sectors rather than in manufacturing and industry.
Manufacturing accounted for 7.3 per cent of employment, unchanged from 2023, while construction represented 6.2 per cent.
The survey also reveals a striking gender imbalance in the labour market recovery.
Although overall employment increased by nearly 11 000 jobs, the number of employed men rose by 18 151, from 131 586 to 149 737.
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Youth unemployment remains above 50%
MBABANE – More than half of Eswatini’s young people aged between 15 and 24 who are actively looking for work remain unemployed, despite a slight improvement in the country’s youth labour market.
The 2025 Integrated Labour Force Survey shows that youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 stood at 52.2 per cent, down from 56 per cent in 2023 and 58.2 per cent in 2021.
The figures mean that out of 58 712 young people in the labour force, 30 673 were unemployed while 28 038 had jobs.
While government and the private sector have repeatedly identified youth employment as a national priority, the survey suggests that job creation has not kept pace with demand for work among young people.
The data further shows that youth labour force participation declined slightly from 27.1 per cent in 2023 to 26.8 per cent in 2025, indicating that fewer young people are either working or actively seeking employment.
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Agriculture remains Eswatini’s biggest employer
MBABANE – Agriculture continues to employ more emaSwati than any other sector of the economy, underlining its importance despite years of efforts to diversify economic activity.
According to the 2025 Integrated Labour Force Survey, agriculture accounted for 24.5 per cent of total employment, making it the country’s largest employer.
The sector employs nearly one in every four workers.
Agriculture’s share of employment is significantly higher than manufacturing, which accounted for 7.3 per cent of jobs, and construction, which represented 6.2 per cent.
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Minister for Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi (C) with the Principal Secretary Makhosini Mndawe and the key stakeholders after the presentation of the report. (Pic: Sibusiso Shange)