Mauritius
+60%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Eswatini
Updated Data years: 2021, 2023 How we use data
Older data (2021) The latest official figure is from 2021. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Eswatini, employees with tertiary education earned a median of SZL 10,070 a month in 2021 (PPP$ 1,627) — +303% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 21.6%, against 30.5% for all adults aged 25 and over (2023).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +303%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2021)
- SZL 10,070median monthly pay with tertiary education (2021)
- 21.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 30.5%, 2023)
Do graduates earn more in Eswatini?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | SZL 1,524 | 246 | -39% |
| Basic education | SZL 2,000 | 323 | -20% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | SZL 10,070 | 1,627 | +303% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | SZL 7,778 | 1,257 | +211% |
| Master's or equivalent | SZL 12,000 | 1,939 | +380% |
| All levels | SZL 2,500 | 404 | — |
The degree premium ranks 6 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Eswatini?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2021, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | SZL 10,930 | 1,766 | +337% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | SZL 9,998 | 1,615 | +300% |
| Clerical support workers | SZL 6,000 | 969 | +140% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | SZL 4,440 | 717 | +77% |
| Craft and related trades workers | SZL 2,900 | 469 | +16% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | SZL 2,205 | 356 | -12% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | SZL 2,012 | 325 | -20% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | SZL 2,000 | 323 | -20% |
| Elementary occupations | SZL 1,521 | 246 | -39% |
| All occupations | SZL 2,500 | 404 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Eswatini?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 22.2% | — |
| Basic education | 33.7% | 55.2% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 21.6% | — |
| All levels | 30.5% | 54.0% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 128 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Eswatini
Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.
Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad
Country context
- Population
- 1.3M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $12,529 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 6.4% (2013)
Questions about graduate jobs in Eswatini
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Eswatini?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Eswatini with tertiary education earned a median of SZL 10,070 a month in 2021, compared with SZL 2,500 for all employees — +303%. The degree premium ranks 6 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Eswatini?
In 2023, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Eswatini was 21.6%, compared with 30.5% for all adults.
Which jobs pay the most in Eswatini?
The best-paid occupation group in Eswatini in 2021 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of SZL 10,930 (PPP$ 1,766). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of SZL 10,930.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Comoros
+33%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021) -
Equatorial Guinea
+77%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
Guinea-Bissau
+117%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Lesotho
+186%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Botswana
+300%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2021
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2023
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Eswatini: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/eswatini/ (accessed September 26, 2026)