BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI – For many young people, choosing a career can be a difficult decision, often made without enough information about available opportunities, required skills or changing industry demands. The Eswatini Career Expo 2026 is helping bridge this gap by connecting learners with career guidance, skills development opportunities and professionals from different sectors.
The career Expo is organised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security with the aim of helping young people make informed decisions about their future. Ministry of Labour and Social Security Measurement Officer Lucky Dlamini Lucky Dlamini said the career expo was designed to expose learners to opportunities they may not have known existed while encouraging them to start planning their career journeys early.
“Many learners reach the end of their schooling without a clear understanding of the careers they want to pursue. This platform allows them to interact with different sectors and understand what is required to succeed in those fields,” said Dlamini. He explained that career guidance goes beyond simply choosing a profession, as learners also need to understand the skills, qualifications and personal abilities required in the workplace.
The ministry supports learners through career assessment programmes aimed at identifying their strengths and interests. Dlamini said Form 5 learners are assisted through the Skills Development System (SDS) test, while Form 3 learners undergo aptitude tests to help determine suitable career paths. “These assessments help learners understand their abilities and make choices based on their strengths rather than choosing careers without proper guidance,” he said.
Dlamini also encouraged all young people to attend the National Career Expo in their numbers, saying the programme is open to everyone regardless of their educational or employment status. He said secondary school learners, university and college students, TVET trainees, unemployed graduates, school leavers and unemployed youth will all benefit from the free career guidance, networking opportunities and entrepreneurship support available throughout the nationwide roadshow.
For learners, the expo has become more than just a career information platform it is also an opportunity to showcase their own talents and skills. Vuyani Lokotfwako from Somnjalose High School said the school was using the platform to demonstrate the practical skills learners gain through subjects such as Food and Nutrition and Agriculture. She explained that learners were exhibiting cooked products prepared through Food and Nutrition lessons, as well as agricultural produce from their farming activities.
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