Rwanda ranked second in Africa for employee engagement

By The Inspirer.

A report by the U.S.-based organization Gallup, which analyzes labor-related trends, ranked Rwanda second in Africa among countries with the most engaged and dedicated workers.

Gallup is a renowned organization established in 1935, known for providing data that supports various sectors such as leadership, workforce development, employee services, and overall well-being. The organization specializes in collecting and analyzing workers’ opinions from different industries around the world, helping countries address gaps in their labor systems.

Headquartered in Washington D.C., Gallup also operates offices in major cities like London, Berlin, New York, Singapore, Sydney, Abu Dhabi, and others. It collects data from over 160 countries.

The 2025 report focused on employee participation and enthusiasm for their jobs, their well-being, and other factors that contribute to workplace productivity across the globe.

According to the 2025 report:

• Senegal ranked first in Africa for having highly engaged employees.
• Rwanda came in second.
• Liberia followed in third,
• then Mali and
• Tanzania in fifth place.

Rwanda’s Minister of Public Service and Labor, Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka, recently stated that one of the key factors that boost employee engagement and productivity is ensuring that workers feel secure and work in a safe environment.

She said: “A person who works while feeling insecure and uncertain about tomorrow cannot deliver the same output as someone who is treated well, has a proper employment contract, and whose rights are respected. Such a person puts in more effort to avoid losing their job. It benefits everyone.”

Among other East African countries:

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ranked 7th,
• Uganda ranked 19th, and
• Kenya came in at 21st.

However, the report covering 160 countries globally showed that overall employee engagement levels decreased—from 23% in 2023 to 21% in 2024—leading to a global economic loss estimated at $438 billion.

In Rwanda, there are approximately 8.07 million people of working age (16 years and above), with about 1 million actively seeking employment. Each year, an estimated 211,000 people enter the Rwandan labor market.