Eswatini Services Employment
Employment in services SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS
Eswatini's services employment was 58.72% in 2025, ranked 89th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Eswatini's services employment stood at 58.72% in 2025, a decline of +0.29% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 54.35% by 2026. Eswatini ranked 89th globally.
Eswatini’s services sector employed 58.72 percent of the labour force in 2025, placing the kingdom at 89th in the world ranking. The share has risen modestly from the earliest recorded 56.97 percent in 1991, the all‑time trough, and approached its post‑pandemic peak of 68.71 percent in 2021 before receding. Over the 35‑year series, the upward trajectory reflects gradual diversification away from agriculture and manufacturing, yet the recent pull‑back suggests that the sector’s expansion is vulnerable to external shocks such as global tourism downturns and domestic fiscal constraints. Compared with peer economies, Eswatini’s services employment is slightly above the Syrian Arab Republic’s 58.50 percent and just below Belarus’s 59.46 percent, indicating a middle‑of‑the‑road performance within its ranking cluster. If structural reforms bolster digital infrastructure and vocational training, the services share could regain momentum and move toward a new high in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Services Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 49.41% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 51.88% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 54.35% | - | - |
| 2025 | 58.72% | −0.29% | #89 |
| 2024 | 59.01% | +0.35% | #89 |
| 2023 | 58.66% | −5.10% | #90 |
| 2022 | 63.75% | −4.95% | #103 |
| 2021 | 68.71% | +1.15% | #127 |
| 2020 | 67.56% | +0.86% | #124 |
| 2019 | 66.70% | +1.34% | #118 |
| 2018 | 65.36% | +1.49% | #115 |
| 2017 | 63.87% | +1.52% | #108 |
| 2016 | 62.35% | +0.56% | #105 |
| 2015 | 61.79% | +0.47% | #104 |
| 2014 | 61.32% | +0.48% | #104 |
| 2013 | 60.85% | +0.29% | #104 |
| 2012 | 60.56% | +0.12% | #104 |
| 2011 | 60.44% | +0.29% | #105 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Eswatini matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw services employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Eswatini's services employment was 58.72% in 2025. Ranked 89th globally. This represents a 0.5% decrease from the previous year.
Eswatini's services employment peaked at 68.71% in 2021.
The lowest services employment in Eswatini was 56.97% in 1991.
Eswatini ranks 89th globally in services employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.SRV.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Eswatini's services employment is projected to reach 54.35% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The services employment of Eswatini in 2025 was 58.72%. This ranks 89th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_eswatini_services-employment,
title = {Eswatini Services Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/eswatini/services-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}