Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labor and Skills has announced that more than three million citizens secured employment both at home and abroad during the first half of the current fiscal year, marking a significant surge in the country’s labor market.

The figures were unveiled by Labor and Skills Minister Muferiat Kamil during a performance review before the House of Peoples' Representatives Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, Employment, and Technology. According to the report, the government has seen a 24.9% rise in domestic job creation compared to the same period last year, while overseas employment opportunities have skyrocketed by 52%.

A central pillar of this growth has been the technical and vocational sector. Minister Muferiat noted that TVET institutions across the country enrolled more than 290,000 new trainees in the last seven months alone. These institutions are also becoming increasingly self-sufficient, generating 1.7 billion Birr in internal revenue.

To support the burgeoning entrepreneurial sector, the Ministry has overseen the distribution of 76 billion Birr in credit. Additionally, 56 hectares of land have been specifically partitioned to provide small and medium enterprises with dedicated spaces for production and retail.

Beyond the numbers, the Ministry is turning to technology to address long-standing concerns regarding the welfare of Ethiopians working overseas. A new digital tracking system has been launched to monitor and protect the rights and dignity of citizens employed abroad, ensuring they are shielded from exploitation through a more transparent, digitized process.

Dr. Negeri Lencho, Chairperson of the Standing Committee, confirmed that parliament is now conducting a rigorous evaluation of these results, with a particular focus on how these employment gains translate into long-term industrial stability and youth empowerment.