Job Loss Due to Covid-19 Crisis Not as High as Initially Thought
ADDIS ABABA – The government of Ethiopia has reported on Monday that the job loss due to coronavirus crisis is not as significant as it was initially expected.
This was revealed during an Investment and Jobs Creation National Committee meeting convened Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Ethiopia chose to not lockdown its economy but responded swiftly and boldly to the COVID-19 crisis.
Some say this unconventional approach reflects the country’s limited financial and human resources, as well as the low level of available international support.
Despite these severe constraints, the results so far have been better than anyone expected especially in decreasing job loss, according to the data the PM office released.
“Although 330,000 jobs have been impacted by COVID19, the losses reported have not been as significant as had been expected,” the PM office said in a statement issued on Monday.
The country also managed to hit its target to create three million jobs in a year.
“Of the national target of creating 3 million jobs in one year, Jobs Commission reported that 3,387,079 jobs have been created nationwide in agriculture, industry and services sector,” the office said
Key contributors for the milestone achieved including enhanced private sector participation, large scale government projects, focus on enterprise development, and sectoral financing support, reported the PM office after the job creation meeting on Monday morning.
The meeting has evaluated the national job creation activities taken over the past year and set a direction for the year ahead.
The committee has now set a new target of creating another 3 million job distributed nationally in 2013 E.C. “and maximizing on successes gained thus far”, according to the PM office.
Five key areas
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that Ethiopia’s journey to prosperity need not be interrupted by intermittent incidents.
Staying on the course is key while keeping track of progress, he added.
In setting a direction, the PM shared that regions need to put all their efforts and focus on five key areas.
These include ensuring peace and security not only through strengthening the security sector but also by facilitating community stakeholders to be guardians of peace; and building strong mindsets and attitude of youth by diverting energy to volunteerism and making volunteerism a prerequisite to hiring.
The other areas to focus on are enhancing automation; coordination and alignment among private and public sector initiatives; and strengthening the financial sector to support youth, farmers, and other categories making a living on small earnings.
The national jobs creation committee launched last year and Chaired by the Prime Minister, comprises the Deputy Prime Minister, Presidents of regional states, the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Mayors and two representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister.
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