Experts Review Skills Anticipation Report Ahead of Launch

On Friday morning, March 14, 2025, experts and stakeholders gathered at the Mountain View Hotel in Mbabane to validate the Labour Market Skills Anticipation Report, a key component of the National Labour Market Skills Project (NLMSP). Organised by the Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (ESEPARC) in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission and the Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC), the meeting attracted representatives from government, the private sector, and Training institutions. Its purpose was to review preliminary findings and ensure alignment with Eswatini’s national skills development agenda ahead of the official launch of the report scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini.

Skills Development: A Global and National Priority

Delivering a presentation on the findings of the study, Senior Research Fellow at ESEPARC, Tengetile Hlophe-Dlamini, Emphasised that skills development is a global agenda, not just a national concern. Referencing the Continental Education Strategy for Africa, she noted the emphasis on developing skills that will be relevant and practical in the near future across the continent. This objective also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and aspects of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), which focus on advancing vocational education, promoting innovation, and building skills to meet future technological demands across various industries.

“Our national development strategy also Emphasises skills development, and this has been recently supported by the Strategic Roadmap to enhance vocational education and build human capital relevant to Eswatini. Over the years, the country has not been developing at the desired pace, and while recent GDP growth of 4.3% and 4.9% is encouraging, the broader trend shows minimal growth. The key to sustainable growth lies in developing skills that align with our economic needs,” Hlophe-Dlamini said.

Addressing Skills Mismatches and Youth Unemployment

Eswatini has one of the world’s highest skills mismatch indices according to the International Labour Organization (ILO, 2020). Hlophe-Dlamini highlighted that the nation continues to struggle to produce essential skills, such as engineering, which are crucial for national growth. Despite knowing the desired objectives from various strategies, the lack of sufficient human capital remains a significant barrier to achieving these goals.

Youth unemployment, though recently reduced from 58.2% in 2021 to 48.7%, remains a pressing concern. “The key question is, what are the drivers of that success in reducing youth unemployment? More importantly, we must recognise the need for change. The world is evolving, and the demand for skills is increasingly driven by technology. We cannot continue offering the same training programs and expect different results,” she stated, referencing the World Economic Forum’s Future Skills 2025 Report which identifies technology as a primary driver of skills transformation.

Study Objectives and Methodology

The Labour Market Skills Anticipation Report builds on the National Skills Audit of 2021, aiming to improve data accuracy and enhance programming for higher education institutions. The study’s objectives include:

  1. Conducting a comprehensive desktop analysis of skills gaps, mismatches, and emerging skills identified in the 2022 Skills Audit Report.
  2. Providing statistical information on skills shortages, surpluses, and future skill demands.
  3. Developing a sustainable framework for aligning higher education with present and future industrial, national, and global skill requirements.
  4. Benchmarking with higher education councils in SADC to address skills gaps and prepare for emerging skill requirements.
  5. Engaging stakeholders across government, industry, and education to gather input on a workable model.

The study employed three primary methodologies: literature review, surveys, and skills anticipation modeling. Surveys targeted training institutions, graduates, and employers across private, public, NGO, and parastatal sectors, with an emphasis on private sector representation to understand industry needs. Skills anticipation modeling utilised historical data to project economic demand and skill requirements over the next 10 to 20 years, assuming economic growth continues at projected levels.

Sector-Specific Findings

Hlophe-Dlamini provided insights into several key sectors, including:

  1. Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing: This sector remains one of the largest in economic activity, contributing significantly to GDP. Despite this, only 20% of employers are exploring automation, and there is a need for skills in climate-smart agriculture, agricultural biotechnology, value chain management, and digital agriculture.
  2. Mining and Energy: Women remain underrepresented at 28% compared to 72% of males. Many skills required in this sector are not produced locally, creating a need for targeted short programs to address gaps in technical, practical, and industry-specific skills.
  3. Manufacturing: Contributing 30% to GDP and 16.6% to total employment, this sector has the largest potential for job creation. However, many Emaswati occupy low-paying jobs, highlighting the need for skills that can support industrial automation, food safety, packaging technology, and AI-driven quality control.
  4. Tourism: With a 23.9% contribution to GDP, tourism continues to grow. However, the sector requires enhanced skills in digital marketing, technology integration, and cultural liaison.
  5. ICT and Education Sector: The difference between males (51%) and females (49%) in this sector is promising. Companies like ESCCOM and RSTP have implemented numerous programs aimed at training females in ICT and offering scholarships to encourage girls to pursue careers in ICT, thus creating opportunities. This effort is evident in the distribution of employment within the sector. The preferred age range for applicants is 31 to 40 years, with most employees holding permanent positions. Additionally, this sector has a notable percentage of individuals advancing their skills, with 14.8% having attained Doctoral degrees. As a cross-cutting sector driven by technological change, ICT and Education will continue to be a high-demand industry in the future.
  6. Wholesale and Retail Sector and Automotive Repair: This is the largest industry in terms of employment in Eswatini, contributing 17.9% of total employment (ILFS, 2023). The sector lacks higher-level qualifications. Emerging jobs include:Business and Customer Experience: Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Social Media Marketing, Customer Service Specialist, Brand Ambassadors.
  7. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities Sector: This industry’s nature requires individuals to be highly experienced and skilled. Globally, it drives innovation, research, and knowledge creation. However, in Eswatini, the sector is characterised by lower-level qualifications, which limits professionals’ ability to compete for international jobs. Consequently, Eswatini often absorbs graduates from outside the country to meet skill requirements.

     Scarce Skills:

  • Engineering and Manufacturing: Advanced manufacturing specialist, electrification and hybrid technologist, sustainability engineer.
  • Marketing and Branding: Digital marketer, marketing automation specialist, branding specialists.
  • Legal and Compliance: Legal designer, legal compliance, ethics and compliance officer, notary public service.
  • Creative and Design: Designer, creative directors, 3D presentation.

A Roadmap for Skills Development

Hlophe-Dlamini concluded her presentation by emphasising the need for Eswatini to develop a robust skills supply system that can respond to current and future needs. “Our objective is not only to inform higher education programming but also to assist parents in making informed decisions about their children’s education. There is a need for skills export, which remains unexplored in our country. Preparing for the future requires us to recognise emerging trends and equip our people accordingly,” she stated.

The findings from this validation meeting will be refined and incorporated into the final report, which will be officially launched on March 27, 2025.