Ethiopia Says Over 80,000 Youths Working in Remote Jobs

Mintesinot Niggusie

The Ministry of Labour and Skills said more than 80,000 young Ethiopians are currently engaged in remote jobs and freelancing work, reflecting a growing shift toward digital employment as an alternative source of income in the country.

Solomon Soka, State Minister for Labour and Skills, told Addis Zemen newspaper that remote work allows professionals to be employed by companies across different countries while remaining in Ethiopia, using basic digital tools such as smartphones and laptops.

He described remote work as a system that enables skilled workers to participate in global labour markets without physical relocation, adding that income levels among participants have shown improvement.

According to the ministry, the expansion of remote work is linked to broader efforts to improve digital skills and strengthen entrepreneurship among young people, with a focus on raising productivity and expanding job creation through technology.

Solomon said building a competitive workforce requires closing digital skill gaps and improving access to training that aligns with international labour market demands.

He added that freelancing and remote work depend heavily on digital literacy and technical capability, and the government is working to expand technology-driven job creation initiatives to support youth employment.