ESEPARC has called for more investments in upskilling and reskilling in the advent emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) worldwide.
Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis Director and Research Centre (ESEPARC) Executive Director Dr Thabo Sacolo said investing in reskilling and upskilling programmes would prepare workers for emerging technologies and automation-resistant roles.
He was speaking during the Leadership Growth Forum (LGF) webinar on bridging the skills gaps in Eswatini, held in collaboration with the Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC) and ESEPARC.
The webinar titled ‘Bridging the Skills Gap in Eswatini: Insights from the 2025 National Skills Anticipation Report’, aimed to unpack the urgent issue of skills mismatches in Eswatini’s labour market and explore practical, data-driven solutions to equip the country’s workforce for the future.
These gaps if left unaddressed threaten the country’s ability to compete regionally and globally, hence the webinar, a crucial opportunity to translate data into action, convened experts and stakeholders across sectors to discuss how Eswatini can strategically close its skills gap and prepare a workforce that is future-ready.
A key area of focus was the persistent challenge where graduates though qualified are often not equipped with the skills demanded by employers, and special attention given to emerging fields such as digital technology and the green economy, which are poised to play a central role in driving future growth.
Dr Sacolo also urged expansion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and vocational training, and the creation of international scholarship programmes to develop expertise.
He urged the country to also support green skills training, invest in sustainable industries and promote eco-friendly construction and agriculture.
“We should also advocate for policies that support job creation, encourage innovation, and facilitate entrepreneurship and foreign investment, and develop youth employment programmes, provide incentives for healthcare careers, and encourage flexible work models for professionals.
“The country can also support green skills training, invest in sustainable industries, and promote eco-friendly construction and agriculture.
it must also strengthen domestic industries, create incentives for local businesses, and improve the competitiveness of the workforce through digital skills training,” he added.
He recommended regularly updated labour market forecasts to adapt to changes, strengthen partnerships between government, industry, and education to ensure workforce readiness.
He also encouraged lifelong learning and professional development, implementation of targeted policies that support emerging sectors and mitigate job losses in declining industries, and diversifying economic sectors, invest in resilient industries and implement policies that encourage job growth.
Meanwhile, President of the Institute of People Management (IPM) Eswatini Sharon Maziya, who was also the moderator, led experts and stakeholders as they unpacked the National Skills Audit report; raising concerns on the highest unemployment rate, sectors with lots of jobs in elementary positions and very limited specialists and the limited research and development in the country as a whole.
