Forum Stresses Need to Policy Prioritization on Skills, Youth Employment & Jobs Creation

Addis Ababa February 29/2024 (ENA) The 5th Ministerial Forum on Migration stressed the need for policy prioritization on skills, youth employment, and job creation as well as harmonization of a regular migration regulatory framework.

The Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration (RMFM) on harmonizing labor migration policies under the theme: “Harnessing the power of regular migration pathways for youth employment, skills development, and green economy” concluded today.

On the occasion, Labor and Skills State Minister Teshale Berecha said that we the RMFM has blossomed into a vital space for consultation and collaboration in the realm of labor migration.

Education is at the heart of addressing the root causes of irregular migration and is a catalytic force to accelerate skill-based, dignified and regular mobility of labor in our region, across the continent and beyond, he added.  

According to him, the theme not only aligns with the well-known issue of Africa’s booming youth population but also echoes policymakers’ concerns about harnessing Africa's demographic dividend for a sustainable future. 

One-fifth of the world’s youth resides in our continent, and by 2030, its working-age population will balloon to 600 million, with nearly 40 percent being young people, Teshale said, and added that this presents a golden opportunity, for it would mean over half a billion trained, and empowered individuals can potentially drive development in our continent. 

Meanwhile, the State Minister underscored “the harsh reality, however, is the alarming unemployment, especially among youth (11.2%) compared to adults (6.7%). 

“Such a challenge can partly be addressed if we focus, for example, on transforming our Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems to boost our capacities in implementing various capacity building programs toward promoting skill-based mobility,” he elaborated.   

IOM Ethiopia Chief of Mission, Abibatou Wane Fall said on her part that the breadth and scope of the reforms undertaken, and progress made individually as well as collectively demonstrate the importance of labor migration and its corollary for all the Member States.

Skills, youth employment and jobs creation are at the center of the policy priorities of the East and Horn of Africa countries, she pointed out, and added “For instance, in Ethiopia the labor market must absorb approximately 2 million new entrants each year.”

“Sustainable job creation and youth employment is a priority, and the Government of Ethiopia has embarked in ambitious reforms promoting skills development, improving job creation, promoting the business environment, expanding labor migration and none the least engaging diaspora for knowledge, skills and technology transfer,” the Chief of Mission lauded.

According to her, the RMFM provides an effective platform for interstate cooperation, a model for African multilateral cooperation on migration, and a vehicle for advancing innovative solutions based on shared experience and priorities as well as agreed upon goals.