UNDP-SWZ-00238 - Individual Consultant for the Establishment of a Job Creation Observatory - UNDP - SWAZILAND

Summary

Introduction Country: ESWATINI Description of the Assignment: The overall objective of this assignment is to provide advanced data analytics and visualization support for the establishment of the Job Creation Observatory, using targeted employment data and the recently completed MEPD database, to generate actionable labour market insights that inform policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring. SCOPE OF WORK(S) PAYE-Based Job Surveillance and Analytics : The Consultant will collaborate with the Eswatini Revenue Service to analyse employment/tax data to track job creation and job losses by sector, industry, region, and earnings levels, generating timely insights to inform policies that promote job creation and prevent job losses. Operationalization of the MEPD Database: The Consultant will operationalize the MEPD database as the central repository for job surveillance data, ensuring systematic storage, regular updates, and support for time‑series employment analysis. Job Creation Observatory Dashboard: The Consultant will develop and maintain a Job Creation Observatory dashboard linked to the MEPD database, providing near real‑time visualization of employment trends, job creation, job losses, and earnings patterns for policymakers. Policy Analysis and Knowledge Transfer: The Consultant will translate data analysis into policy‑relevant insights and support capacity building within MEPD to ensure sustainable operation of the job surveillance system and dashboard. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES Under the overall guidance of MEPD and UNDP, and in close collaboration with ERS, the Individual Consultant will be responsible for the following: PAYE Data Analytics and Job Surveillance - Collaborate closely with Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) to access, clean, structure, and analyse PAYE datasets in line with agreed data governance protocols. Develop analytical frameworks to track and monitor: Number of jobs created and lost over time; Job creation and losses by sector, industry, region, and firm size (subject to data availability); Median, average, high, and low earnings by sector and industry; Employment concentration and vulnerability across sectors. Conduct trend and comparative analysis to identify sectors with: High job creation potential; Declining employment (job haemorrhage); and Wage compression or inequality patterns. Generate policy-relevant insights linking employment trends to macroeconomic and sectoral dynamics. Conduct time-series, trend, and comparative analysis to identify: o ✓ Sectors and industries with strong employment generation potential; o ✓ Early warning signals of job haemorrhage; and o ✓ Wage and earnings dynamics relevant for inclusive growth. Generate policy-relevant insights to support evidence-based decision-making aimed at promoting job creation and preventing job losses through timely policy enactment. Development of the Job Creation Observatory Dashboard Lead the utilization of the MEPD database to design and develop a dynamic, userfriendly dashboard for the Job Creation Observatory. Ensure the dashboard supports near real-time visualization of key labour market indicators, including: o ✓ Jobs created and lost (monthly/annual); o ✓ Sectoral and industry-level employment trends; o ✓ Earnings distribution and wage bands; ✓ Regional employment patterns. nsure the dashboard is modular and adaptable for potential expansion to other SDG and economic indicators beyond job creation · Work closely with MEPD technical teams to ensure sustainability, usability, and knowledge transfer. Policy Support and Knowledge Products Translate complex data analytics into clear, policy-oriented narratives for decisionmakers. Produce analytical briefs, technical notes, and presentations for policymakers, the proposed Job Surveillance / Reference Group, and development partners. Support the establishment of a sentinel job surveillance approach, explicitly recognizing data coverage limitations and proposing practical enhancements o