The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, has launched the Labour Force Survey Report and Youth Thematic Report, which show that the unemployment rate in the Kingdom of Eswatini has risen to 35.4 percent—an increase of 2.1 percent from 2021. According to the report, this means that out of every 100 people, about 35 are unemployed.
In his remarks, the Minister stated that the report provides statistical insights that allow for the measurement and comparison of the country’s labour trends over time. It also offers valuable information on which sectors of the economy are creating jobs and which are struggling. Most importantly, the data enables the government and other stakeholders to identify the groups most affected by unemployment and develop targeted response policies.
The Minister noted that youth and women continue to bear the brunt of unemployment, with figures disproportionately higher compared to other population groups. He said government has already put in place medium- to long-term plans to address the country’s development challenges, including initiatives outlined in the Strategic Road Map.
The report indicates that unemployment is higher among women, with a rate of 37.6 percent, compared to 33.1 percent for men. Regional disparities also exist, with Shiselweni recording the highest unemployment rate at 42.7 percent. Furthermore, the rural unemployment rate is approximately 17 percentage points higher than in urban areas.
The combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force is notably high, especially among those at either end of the age spectrum. The overall rate stands at 45.6 percent. The composite rate of labour underutilization—those unemployed, underemployed, or part of the potential labour force—is at 52.1 percent, meaning more than half of the extended labour force is not fully utilized.
With regard to the migrant population, the report states that the working-age population is 793,614. Of this, 50.8 percent is considered part of the labour force, while 49.2 percent is not economically active.
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