-233,000 jobseekers deployed abroad in Seven Months
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia is broadening its overseas employment opportunities, with the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) now including over 20 job fields, significantly expanding from its earlier focus on domestic work.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), the MoLS Ethiopian Labor Market Information System (E-LMIS) Project Office Head Birhanu Aleka noted that the country had previously been limited to deploying domestic workers. However, it now sends both skilled and semi-skilled workers to various countries.
Over the past seven months alone, Ethiopia has legally deployed approximately 233,000 jobseekers abroad. The number of destination countries has also doubled in the last three years, growing from three to six, with efforts underway to add two more.
Previously, the system’s narrow scope led to governance challenges, corruption, and the interruption of employment opportunities for over 40,000 citizens annually. To address these issues, the government has implemented reforms aimed at benefiting jobseekers, their families, and the nation’s economy.
Since 2015 E.C., Ethiopia has deployed approximately 705,000 workers abroad through legal channels. Currently, semi-skilled workers are being sent to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Lebanon. Additionally, a limited number of Ethiopian workers have been placed in Germany, Poland, Sweden, and Norway.
Birhanu also stated that private overseas employment is permitted to any country, provided security clearance is obtained.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 9 MARCH 2025
