An unemployment rate of 35.4% in 2023
The Integrated Labour Force Survey 2023, carried out by the government with ILO support, measures unemployment at 35.4%. In 2021, the rate was 33%. The survey was presented publicly in May 2025, setting a new benchmark for the labour market.
Long-term unemployment predominates
More than half of the unemployed, or 52.5%, have been looking for work for a year or longer. For a candidate, this means anticipating a lengthy search and keeping skills up to date through training courses or occasional assignments.
Underemployment and young workers
In 2023, 11% of employed people were underemployed: they work fewer than 35 hours a week and would like to work more. Young people are described as disproportionately affected by unemployment, with no precise rate published in the available summary.
Low trade union representation
According to the same survey, 66% of employees do not belong to any workers' organisation. New recruits therefore often have to negotiate their terms alone: read the contract carefully and ask which rules apply to your branch.
Eighteen wage councils instead of a national minimum
Minimum wages are set by wage councils established under section 6 of the Wages Act No. 16 of 1964. There are 18 of them, each covering one branch. The ILO describes this system as among the most complex in Africa.
How these tripartite councils work
Each council brings together six workers' representatives, six employers' representatives and six independent members appointed by the labour minister. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security provides the secretariat. A study on a possible national minimum wage has been mentioned.
Informality and statistics still awaited
The share of informal employment is not published in the ILO summary, which announces a thematic report devoted to this question. The 2016, 2021 and 2023 surveys remain available in the organisation's statistical catalogue for anyone wishing to consult them.
Immigration: ask Home Affairs
Work authorisations for foreign nationals fall under the home affairs ministry, which has an Immigration section on the government portal. Our sources detail neither the categories nor the documents required: contact the authorities or the embassy before taking any steps.
Regional posts with NGOs and international organisations
Impactpool has a page devoted to vacancies in Eswatini, and NGO Jobs in Africa publishes regional positions covering the country. Our guide to humanitarian careers explains how to present an application to this type of employer.
Adverts covering several Southern African countries
Some recently published vacancies cover Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique at once, such as regional security manager posts advertised on Vacancy Mail. Careers in international institutions often follow this multi-country approach.
The large South African neighbour
Many candidates compare their prospects with South Africa, which almost entirely surrounds the kingdom. Our page on South African employment details the work visas required by Home Affairs and the national hourly minimum wage.
Mozambique: another border market
To the east, the Mozambican market operates with sectoral minimum wages published in meticais and a Portuguese-speaking environment. These differences in language and regulation weigh on the choice of a country in which to work.
Institutions and sources for Eswatini
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security: Labour ministry that provides the secretariat for the wage councils and oversees the labour force survey.
- Organisation internationale du Travail (OIT): Technical and financial partner of the country's Integrated Labour Force Survey 2023.
- Ministère de l'Intérieur – Immigration: Authority responsible for immigration, with a dedicated section on the government portal.
- Impactpool: Platform for United Nations and NGO vacancies, with a page devoted to Eswatini.
- NGO Jobs in Africa: Site listing only non-profit and humanitarian vacancies across some forty African countries.
- Vacancy Mail: Zimbabwean job portal that also carries regional vacancies including Eswatini.
Job search method for Eswatini
- Identify the wage council for your branch to find out the minimum applicable to your future post.
- Write a CV in English with precise dates and verifiable references.
- Follow vacancies on Impactpool, NGO Jobs in Africa and Vacancy Mail, especially multi-country posts.
- Before any firm offer, ask immigration which work authorisation is required.
- Request a written contract stating salary, working hours and the length of the probation period.
- Prepare for a long search by keeping your skills up to date.
Available indicators for Eswatini
| Indicator | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 35.4% | ILFS 2023, ILO, May 2025 |
| Previous unemployment rate | 33% | 2021 survey |
| Unemployed for a year or more | 52.5% | ILFS 2023 |
| Underemployed workers | 11% | ILFS 2023 |
| National minimum wage | no single rate, 18 wage councils | ILO, January 2025 |
| Share of informal employment | not published | ILO, May 2025 |
Paperwork to gather for Eswatini
- CV in English
- Certified qualifications
- Valid passport
- Contract or offer letter
- Work authorisation issued by immigration
- Police clearance certificate
Bad habits to avoid in Eswatini
- Paying an unknown intermediary who promises a post with an NGO: these organisations recruit at no cost to candidates.
- Assuming a national minimum wage applies, when each branch depends on its own wage council.
- Starting work without immigration authorisation in the hope of regularising the situation later.
- Giving up too quickly, when most unemployed people have been searching for more than a year.
Answers on working in Eswatini
What is the unemployment rate in Eswatini?
The Integrated Labour Force Survey 2023 measures a rate of 35.4%, compared with 33% in 2021. More than half of the unemployed have been out of work for at least a year, and 11% of employed people are underemployed.
Is there a minimum wage in Eswatini?
There is no single national minimum wage. Eighteen tripartite wage councils, set up under the Wages Act of 1964, set minimum rates by branch. Our sources do not give the amounts: ask the labour ministry for details.
Where should you look for a job in Eswatini?
Impactpool offers a country page, NGO Jobs in Africa publishes regional humanitarian posts and Vacancy Mail carries vacancies covering several Southern African countries. No public employment service has been verified by our sources.
Do you need a permit to work in Eswatini?
A foreign national must obtain authorisation from the immigration services of the home affairs ministry. The categories and documents required are not in our sources: check them with the authorities or the embassy before signing a contract.
Official sources
Principaux résultats de l'enquête emploi 2023gov.sz
OIT : les salaires minimums en Afriqueilo.org
Exemple d'offre régionale sur Impactpoolimpactpool.org
Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueJob.com does not recruit and never asks for money: beware of offers that demand fees.