South Sudan Strengthens Labour and Migration Statistics through Capacity-Building Workshop

A ten-day capacity-building workshop was held in Juba from 3 to 12 September 2025 to enhance the skills of the South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other national stakeholders in producing labour and labour migration statistics in line with international standards. The training was organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, in collaboration with the NBS and the Ministry of Labour.

The workshop addressed long-standing gaps in reliable labour market and migration data and focused on the application of the 19th, 20th, and 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) resolutions. These resolutions provide international standards for measuring employment, work relationships, labour underutilization, informality, child labour, time-use, gender-relevant statistics, and international labour migration. Facilitators introduced conceptual frameworks, definitions, and recommended measurement approaches, followed by group exercises applying these concepts to adapted survey tools.

Participants engaged with modules covering:

• Labour force classification and employment status
• International Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-18)
• Measurement of the informal sector and informal employment
• Time-use and own-use production work
• Identification of migrant workers in household surveys

The training also addressed challenges in producing labour migration data in fragile contexts and explored ways to improve accuracy, consistency, and comparability.

A particular emphasis was placed on preparing for the Labour Force and Migration Survey 2025–26. Participants reviewed the ILO model questionnaire and adapted it to the national context. Sessions included discussions on sampling methods, field protocols, pre-testing procedures, interviewer training, and data validation practices. Stakeholders also agreed on survey priorities, clarified roles, and identified thematic components to be included in the final survey design.

Participants highlighted persistent challenges affecting previous national surveys, including limited coverage of rural areas, difficulties reaching displaced and nomadic populations, gaps in administrative data, and weak coordination across ministries. Discussions emphasized the importance of institutional collaboration, a clear dissemination strategy, and long-term investments in labour market statistics.

The workshop concluded with commitments from the NBS, Ministry of Labour, and partner institutions to:

• Finalize the Labour Force and Migration Survey questionnaire
• Develop the instructions manual and update the survey workplan
• Integrate child labour modules and labour migration components in accordance with international standards
• Strengthen internal capacity for data management and analysis

By the end of the workshop, participants had strengthened their technical expertise and established a structured pathway for producing reliable labour market and labour migration indicators, supporting evidence-based policy and planning for South Sudan.