Ethiopian gov’t targets 5.6 million jobs in 2025/26, expands overseas employment access

Addis Ababa, July 17, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia will work to create job opportunities for 5.6 million citizens in the 2018 Ethiopian fiscal year (2025/26), as part of its broader economic development and social stability agenda.

Minister of Planning and Development Fitsum Assefa (PhD) said during her presentation of the new national development plan that job creation is a central focus of the upcoming fiscal year, with targeted efforts both within Ethiopia and through overseas employment programs.

She emphasized that continued economic growth will provide a favorable environment for job creation. To this end, the government plans to support 429,175 micro and small enterprises as key employment drivers. Access to finance will be facilitated through a planned 48 billion birr in loans to support these businesses.

In addition to domestic job creation, the plan aims to increase the number of countries receiving Ethiopian labor from five to eight. The government will scale up skills development programs to boost the employability of citizens abroad.

Of the total planned 5.6 million new jobs, 800,000 are expected to be overseas placements. Training and coordination with relevant institutions are expected to ensure that Ethiopian workers are better prepared and matched with foreign job market demands.

The plan also acknowledges the need for sustainable and dignified employment. Therefore, a focus will be placed on vocational skills, enterprise development, and overseas labor governance to ensure effective implementation.