Ethiopia plans to create more than three million jobs next year as part of the reform works underway. For a country with more than 100 million population and, creating massive job opportunities is a vital issue as millions of youth join the labor market every year.
So far the government has been doing its best to make all economic development cater to the country’s need of creating jobs for its youth that account for the largest portion of the country’s population. For example, the government has been encouraging the flourishing of manufacturing industries like textile and garment factories that employ as many labor force as possible.
Besides, efforts were also exerted through encouraging micro and small industries which enable youth to form small industries. Yet the government needs to carry out more efforts to open job opportunities for its youth. One of the available opportunities is introducing Artificial Intelligence in the operation of the economy. AI can contribute to improving efficiency and quality.
On top of that its role in creating more jobs is immense. According to a report by Forbes.com in September this year, AI can create a net job of 58 million by 2022. Furthermore, according to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, the number of jobs to be created by AI will be about 400 million by 2030.
Ethiopia should also take advantage of the technology in creating jobs for its citizens. It is a commendable action that the government gave due attention to AI at this very moment. Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE) recently noted that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key driving force of Ethiopia’s destiny in the future as it is one of the technological innovations on the forefront to change our lives and lifestyles.
Despite being one of the developing countries of the world who struggle to ensure the food security of the people, the endeavor to develop AI can be taken as a vital step towards ensuring rapid development that can alleviate the people from poverty. By speeding up economic development and creating more job opportunities in a short period the development of AI needs due attention as a pillar of the country’s socio-economic advancement.
As Ethiopia aims to become a hub of Africa’s manufacturing industries, the development of AI technology becomes a handier issue. The technology can assist the country’s efforts in ensuring the massive production of items with due quality and standards.
Furthermore, AI can assist the country’s endeavor of producing well trained and productive workforce as it can help in the modernization of education and training in the country.
The Ethiopian Herald, July 13/2019
