Ethiopia deepens labor diplomacy with Saudi Arabia amid rising job placements

Addis Ababa, November 11, 2025 (FMC) — A bilateral labor market agreement between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia has created legal employment opportunities for more than half a million Ethiopians in just two years, the Ethiopian Embassy in Riyadh said.

The update came as an Ethiopian delegation took part in the 7th Human Resources and Social Development Expo, which opened this week in Riyadh.

Speaking at the session, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Muktar Kedir, said the agreement has become a central pillar of the two nations’ cooperation, helping expand economic ties, technology transfer and skills development.

He said Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia are leveraging their long-standing diplomatic relations and geographical proximity to advance shared development goals.

According to Ambassador Muktar, over 500,000 Ethiopians have secured lawful employment in Saudi Arabia since the agreement was activated in 2023. The legal pathway, he said, is creating broad job opportunities for citizens while supporting mutual economic growth.

He added that Ethiopia’s participation in the Expo helps the country strengthen its competitiveness in the global labor market, expand technology-supported recruitment systems, and enhance measures that safeguard the rights and welfare of Ethiopian workers abroad. The platform also provides opportunities for dialogue with stakeholders on reducing irregular migration.

Fourteen countries, including Ethiopia, are attending the Expo, which serves as a networking platform for governments, employers and recruitment agencies in the human resource sector.