BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE – A university qualification may open the door to employment, but for many young emaSwati, knowing how to present themselves, communicate and use modern workplace tools could determine whether they walk through it.
This is the gap Khuluma Eswatini is seeking to address through its upcoming GradConnect & Business Seminar, which is expected to bring together young people, employers, human-resource professionals, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the Nedbank Watch Eswatini programme on Eswatini TV, Khuluma Eswatini Public Relations Officer Nondumiso Maseko said many unemployed graduates have qualifications but struggle to translate them into opportunities.
“We have a lot of young unemployed people and not a lot of them are actually ready to take on their first jobs or ready to apply effectively,” Maseko said.
She said one of the most basic challenges is the Curriculum Vitae, with some graduates failing to communicate their abilities and professional story effectively despite having the required academic qualifications.
The concern is not new.
Government’s National Development Plan 2023/24–2027/28 identifies a poor link between education and the skills demanded by the economy as one of Eswatini’s labour-market challenges. The plan, based on the 2021 Labour Force Survey, puts overall unemployment at 33.3% and youth unemployment at 58.2%.
A national skills audit similarly identified a mismatch between the skills being supplied and those demanded by employers.
For Maseko, therefore, the conversation cannot stop at obtaining a degree.
She said young people need communication, customer-care, interpersonal and listening skills, while also keeping pace with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
“AI skills artificial intelligence skills. Being able to know how to use it, when to use it, and what not to do when it comes to artificial intelligence,” she said.
She particularly cautioned young people against using AI carelessly in workplaces, stressing the importance of protecting confidential information and maintaining professional standards.
The issue also extends beyond employment.
Maseko said the seminar will expose young people to entrepreneurship, including opportunities in agriculture, where young people can create income while reducing household expenses through activities such as growing their own food.
Government has also identified entrepreneurship and skills development as important components of tackling youth unemployment, while recent programmes have supported young people with CV development, entrepreneurship and skills training.
The seminar is expected to focus on practical outcomes rather than motivation alone.
Maseko said young people should leave with improved CVs, greater confidence for interviews and clear steps towards employment or starting businesses.
The event is scheduled for Friday, 2 October 2026, at Southern Africa Nazarene University, with Khuluma Eswatini stating that more than 300 participants from over 30 institutions had registered.
For graduates entering a crowded job market, the message is increasingly clear: the qualification may tell an employer what you studied, but practical skills, communication and the ability to demonstrate your value can tell the employer what you can do.
#Eswatini #YouthEmployment #GraduateSkills #Entrepreneurship
(Courtesy Pic)
