UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS BY 5%

MBABANE – The country’s unemployment rate has dropped by five per cent. The total number of employed people in the Kingdom of Eswatini has improved from 212 130 to 288 044 out of the current 373 869 labour force.

From the 28.1 per cent of unemployed populace recorded during the 2013/14 labour force survey, there has been a drop to 23 per cent in the unemployment rate, according to the 2016 survey, which represents a five- per cent improvement in the number of people with jobs.

When delivering the latest labour force findings yesterday, Minister of Labour and Social Security Winnie Magagula disclosed that wholesale, retail and repair of motor vehicles was the highest employer with 16.7 per cent of the total labour force.

She mentioned that this sector was closely followed by manufacturing, which had absorbed 15 per cent while agriculture, forestry and mining employed 11.4 per cent of total labour force.

The lowest employers were water supply, sewerage and waste, whose employment rate out of the total labour force stood at only 0.1 per cent.
In terms of labour force participation by region, the minister said Manzini was leading the pack at 56.8 per cent, followed by Hhohho at 55.9 per cent, Lubombo at 47 per cent and the lowest being Shiselweni at 39.6 per cent. 
“I would like to take this opportunity to applaud all stakeholders that worked hand in hand with government to provide more jobs in the kingdom. We are highly grateful that the employment rate has been increased by five per cent,” said Magagula, during a press conference convened at the ministry’s boardroom yesterday. 

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: