Business Eswatini (BE) has hailed the National Skills Anticipation Report 2025-2034 as a game-changer in addressing the persistent mismatch between the education system and industry needs. This gap has long forced businesses to invest heavily in in-house training for graduates.
The report, produced by the Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC), has been described by BE as a “vital strategic tool” that will empower the private sector with the data and foresight needed to plan effectively, reduce costs, and drive sustainable growth over the next decade.
For years, the private sector in Eswatini has faced a persistent and costly challenge: the profound mismatch between the skills of graduates and the evolving needs of industry. Companies have been forced to become de facto training centres, investing heavily in in-house programmes to upskill recruits, a significant financial burden undertaken simply to align talent with operational demands. This stopgap solution, while necessary, has highlighted a critical systemic gap between the world of education and the world of work.
The ESHEC report arrives at a critical juncture; with youth unemployment at 48.7% and one of the highest skills mismatch indices globally. The urgency for alignment has never been greater. This report moves beyond identifying today’s problems to forecasting tomorrow’s needs, providing a clear, data-driven roadmap for the next decade.
For the private sector, this intelligence provides a foundation for informed decision-making. Companies can now:
• Make informed strategic decisions regarding investment, expansion, and human resource planning.
• Proactively partner with training institutions to co-create curricula that are relevant and responsive.
• Reduce the significant costs associated with in-house remedial training by having a pipeline of job-ready talent.
The report’s value lies in its granular analysis of key economic sectors. It pinpoints both the pressing skills shortages and the emerging skills that will drive competitiveness from 2025 onwards. For the private sector, this intelligence is invaluable.
Agriculture: The sector, a cornerstone of our Economy, is demanding skills in climate-smart agriculture, biotechnology, and digital agriculture. The report warns of a limitation in management-level professionals, a gap that must be filled for the sector to modernize.
Manufacturing: Contributing 30% to GDP, the sector’s future growth hinges on skills in industrial automation, AI-driven quality control, and food safety. While current skills gaps may be narrow, the anticipation of these advanced technological needs allows for proactive training.
Tourism: To capture the modern traveller, the sector requires expertise in digital and social media management, green hospitality, and technology integration. A striking 35% of identified challenges relate to a lack of customer handling skills, underscoring the need for enhanced soft skills training.
ICT: Despite near-equal gender representation, a disconnect between academia and industry fuels graduate unemployment. The demand is for practical programming, cybersecurity, and management information technology skills.
Emerging Sectors: The report brilliantly highlights future-focused skills in areas like aviation (pilots, sustainable fuel specialists, cybersecurity analysts) and renewable energy, signalling where new investments and job opportunities will arise.
“ESHEC has provided an indispensable public good. This report is a testament to what can be achieved when national institutions work strategically to address core economic challenges,” BE notes. “The detailed ten-year demand forecasts for specific professions; from physiotherapists and accountants to specialized educators provide unprecedented clarity for workforce planning. Now there is evidence to advocate for specific educational programmes and to tailor corporate training and development strategies,” notes BE.