South South Cooperation
Ethiopia and South Africa share lessons on Labour Market Information Systems
An Ethiopian delegation visited South Africa to strengthen its Labour Market Information System through peer learning, gaining practical insights on data systems, employment services, and skills alignment to improve coordination and evidence-based planning.
22 April 2026
PRETORIA (ILO News) - From 14 – 17 April 2026, the Ethiopian delegation from the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) and Ethiopia Statistics Service (ESS), supported by the ILO BRMM Programme visited Johannesburg, South Africa for a study visit on Labour Market Information Systems to learn how a comparable country has built and sustained a functional labour market information system.
Ethiopia is advancing its Labour Market Information System (E-LMIS), a digital platform designed to connect jobseekers, employers, training institutions, and policymakers. The system has made ground, but some challenges remain, such as fragmented data across institutions, limited interoperability, and the need for stronger coordination. Moving forward on these requires more than technology alone, as it takes practical experience, collaboration, and learning from those who have faced similar realities.
South Africa’s labour market information ecosystem, built through sustained institutional coordination and integration of data systems, offered relevant and context-driven lessons. Both countries deal with high youth unemployment, informality, and fragmented data, which made the exchange direct and practical rather than theoretical.
Over four days, the Ethiopian delegation engaged directly with key South African institutions. At the Department of Employment and Labour, participants gained a close look at public employment services, including a tour of an Employment Centre, where they observed how jobseekers are registered, matched with vacancies, and supported through career guidance services. Seeing the system in operation was a core part of the learning.
On the second day, engagement with Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) provided a deeper understanding of labour market data production. Discussions focused on labour force surveys, data quality assurance, and how statistical outputs inform national planning and policy decisions. The discussions also surfaced the practical challenges of keeping data reliable and up to date across multiple institutions.
The final day focused on skills systems and their link to labour market intelligence, through meetings with the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). These sessions explored how occupational classification systems, qualifications frameworks, and skills anticipation mechanisms are aligned with labour market needs, offering concrete reference points for Ethiopia’s efforts to better connect training with employment outcomes. Through this engagement, Ethiopian experts identified specific areas to work on, including improving system interoperability, strengthening job-matching services, as well as aligning skills development with labour demand.
The visit also opened the door to continued exchange, with both sides expressing interest in follow-up technical engagement as Ethiopia is heading towards the next phase of E-LMIS implementation.