Guinea-Bissau
+117%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Lesotho
Updated Data years: 2024 How we use data
Quick answer
In Lesotho, employees with tertiary education earned a median of LSL 4,000 a month in 2024 (PPP$ 652) — +186% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 16.7%, against 16.1% for all adults aged 25 and over (2024).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +186%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2024)
- LSL 4,000median monthly pay with tertiary education (2024)
- 16.7%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 16.1%, 2024)
- 65.6%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2024)
Do graduates earn more in Lesotho?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | LSL 739 | 120 | -47% |
| Basic education | LSL 1,200 | 195 | -14% |
| Intermediate education | LSL 2,000 | 326 | +43% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | LSL 4,000 | 652 | +186% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | LSL 4,500 | 733 | +221% |
| Master's or equivalent | LSL 3 | 0 | -100% |
| All levels | LSL 1,400 | 228 | — |
The degree premium ranks 15 of 128 countries with data. That is above the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Lesotho?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2024, 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 | LSL 3,500 | 570 | +150% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | LSL 3,064 | 499 | +119% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | LSL 2,642 | 430 | +89% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | LSL 2,500 | 407 | +79% |
| Clerical support workers | LSL 2,378 | 387 | +70% |
| Craft and related trades workers | LSL 2,000 | 326 | +43% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | LSL 1,700 | 277 | +21% |
| Elementary occupations | LSL 1,000 | 163 | -29% |
| All occupations | LSL 1,400 | 228 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Lesotho?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic education | 16.1% | 25.8% |
| Intermediate education | 17.6% | 43.1% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 16.7% | 65.6% |
| All levels | 16.1% | 31.1% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 122 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Studying and working in Lesotho
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
- 2.4M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $3,184 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 9.9% (2018)
Questions about graduate jobs in Lesotho
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Lesotho?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Lesotho with tertiary education earned a median of LSL 4,000 a month in 2024, compared with LSL 1,400 for all employees — +186%. The degree premium ranks 15 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Lesotho?
In 2024, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Lesotho was 16.7%, compared with 16.1% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 65.6%.
Which jobs pay the most in Lesotho?
The best-paid occupation group in Lesotho in 2024 was “Professionals”, with median monthly earnings of LSL 3,500 (PPP$ 570). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of LSL 3,500.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Botswana
+300%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Gambia
+54%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2018) -
Equatorial Guinea
+77%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
Namibia
+507%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2018) -
Eswatini
+303%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Integrated Labour Force Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Integrated Labour Force Survey, 2024
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Integrated Labour Force Survey, 2024
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Lesotho: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/lesotho/ (accessed September 26, 2026)