By Ncaba Ntshakala
Amidst the backdrop of escalating unemployment rates in the country, emaSwati from various walks of the Kingdom are rallying for more solutions to tackle the rise in such.
This is after the Ministry of Labour and Social Security reported on the Labour Force Survey that the unemployment rate has risen to 35.4%.
During the presentation on the findings, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, outlined key statistics and trends, highlighting both progress and challenges faced by the nation’s workforce.
Minister Buthelezi further acknowledged the crucial contributions of the International Labour Organization, the Central Statistics Office, the Central Bank of Eswatini, the Eswatini Tourism Authority, and individual respondents who participated in the survey.
He emphasized the significance of their input in producing the comprehensive report.
“Employment statistics are at the centre of Government’s development planning, providing a snapshot of where the economy stands in terms of absorbing its active labour force into productive employment,” stated Minister Buthelezi, highlighting the importance of the findings in guiding policy formulation and implementation.
When addressing the prevailing global challenge of unemployment, structural unemployment, and underemployment, the Minister expressed the Kingdom of Eswatini’s experience, particularly concerning disproportionately high rates of unemployment among youth and women.
Moreover, key highlights from the report revealed notable trends in the labour force dynamics. The working-age population saw a modest increase, leading to a rise in the labour force participation rate and a decline in those out of the labour force.
Furthermore, the absorption rate, indicating the employment-to-population ratio, showed improvement, reaching 32.8%.
Muzi Dlamini, from Mahlalini, expressed that the lack of employment opportunities has been a longstanding challenge. “In our community, many young people struggle to find work,” he lamented. “Without jobs, it’s difficult to support ourselves and our families.
We need initiatives that can create employment right here in our own communities.
And I wish the government can roll out more programmes to curb the rise in unemployment.”
Mthobisi Gule, an unemployed University graduate, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the frustrations of many educated youth who find themselves unemployed despite their qualifications.
“I spent years studying and investing in my education, hoping it would lead to a better future,” he shared. “But now, I’m struggling to find a job. We need more support for graduates like me to transition into the workforce.”
Meanwhile, Tenele Msibi, a resident of Matsetsa, emphasized the importance of inclusive economic policies that prioritize marginalized communities.
“In rural areas like Matsetsa, job opportunities are scarce,” she explained.
“We need investments in sectors like agriculture and small-scale entrepreneurship to create sustainable livelihoods for people in our community. Empowering local initiatives and providing access to resources can make a significant difference.”
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However, the report further expressed that in terms of employment creation even though there is a rise, positive strides were observed as the employed population witnessed an increase.
Sectors such as Agriculture, Construction, Manufacturing, Transport, and Financial and Insurance activities contributed to this growth.
This rise was predominantly seen in the informal sector, with a significant decrease noted in the formal sector by about 14.2%.
The Labour Force Survey also viewed that amidst these developments, the unemployment rate registered a concerning increase, rising by 2.1 percentage points to 35.4%.
Females bore the brunt of this increase, with a higher unemployment rate of 37.6% compared to males at 33.1%. Youth unemployment, though showing a slight decrease to 56%, remains alarmingly high, with the Shiselweni region recording the highest youth unemployment rate at 71%.
Additionally, the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training witnessed a rise, indicating challenges in youth engagement and empowerment initiatives.
Minister Buthelezi urged concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the pressing issue of unemployment.
He emphasized the need for targeted interventions to create more employment opportunities, particularly for vulnerable groups such as youth and women.
Collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society was emphasized as crucial in tackling the complex challenges faced by Eswatini’s labour force.
