From data to opportunity: How Kigali JobNet is narrowing the youth unemployment gap

By Elias Hakizimana.

In Rwanda’s capital, where rapid urbanization meets rising demand for jobs, the challenge of youth unemployment remains significant. But Kigali is not waiting idly.

Through a locally-led platform known as Kigali JobNet, the city is leveraging data, partnerships, and digital tools to connect young people to real employment opportunities.

In 2024 alone, over 700 youth found work through the platform—proof that strategic solutions, when driven by data and supported by strong local governance, can create tangible change.

The announcement came on June 26, 2025, during the 15th edition of JobNet held at Petit Stade.

Kigali’s Vice Mayor in charge of Infrastructure and Urban Development, Dusabimana Fulgence, described the impact as transformative.

He explained that during the 2024 JobNet event, more than 700 participants secured either permanent or short-term employment.

In addition, over 1,800 were linked to internships and training programs. He said the effort is part of Kigali’s commitment to sustainable job creation, especially for young people, through technology and citizen-focused governance.

Dusabimana noted that the unemployment rate in Kigali currently stands at 13.6 percent, slightly lower than the national average of 14.9 percent. Yet, with the city’s population nearing 1.8 million, this means tens of thousands of people remain unemployed—a situation that demands targeted action.

At its core, JobNet is more than a platform. It’s a system designed to deliver measurable results. According to data shared by city officials, the 2024 initiative helped 351 individuals secure permanent jobs, while 374 found temporary employment. A further 379 were placed in internships, and 1,680 received training from various institutions to boost their competitiveness in the labor market.

These figures are not just administrative. They represent the narrowing of a gap between youth potential and opportunity.

Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), released in the first quarter of 2025, provides the wider context.

The labor force comprises more than 5.3 million people—around 63 percent of the working-age population. Among them, 4.73 million are employed. However, over 593,000 people remain unemployed, representing 11.1 percent of the labor force.

The youth segment remains particularly vulnerable

Nationally, youth employment stands at 50.5 percent, with 13.6 percent still actively looking for work.

In Kigali, youth are doing slightly better—62.9 percent are employed—but 11.5 percent remain jobless. In rural areas, youth employment is lower at 53.2 percent, with 11 percent unemployment.

JobNet’s role in this context is crucial. It’s not just filling jobs—it’s reshaping how cities respond to labor market dynamics using real-time data and human-centered approaches.

AI-generated chart. 

The impacts

The impact is felt directly by individuals like Diane Mukamana, a 25-year-old graduate of Nyundo School of Arts. She studied multimedia production but struggled to secure employment for over a year. That changed after she attended JobNet in 2023. A few weeks later, she landed a job with a Kigali-based production company as a video editor.

“Before JobNet, I sent CVs that never got responses,” she said. “The platform allowed me to connect directly with people who were actually hiring. That changed everything.”

Emmanuel Ndayambaje had a similar experience. After completing a hospitality course in Kicukiro, he spent four years applying for jobs with no success. He joined the JobNet forum in 2024 and was soon invited to interviews by two hotels. Today, he works full-time in guest services.

“I had almost given up,” he said. “JobNet gave me another chance.”

Iribagiza Beatha also testifies to the program’s power. She had studied accounting and searched for employment since 2016. In her first JobNet appearance, she was matched with KSP Rwanda and eventually hired as a receptionist.

“I had been waiting for this for years,” she said. “JobNet gave me hope.”

Youth attending the JobNet event to connect with employers and training opportunities in Kigali.

The platform is also winning over employers.

Uwimana Saleh, Director of KSP Rwanda, said his company has hired 40 people through JobNet since 2013. Some joined through internships, others through direct hiring or after professional training. Many have stayed and grown within the organization.

JobNet’s success is built on deliberate coordination. It is rooted in data analysis, youth profiling, employer feedback, and ongoing follow-up. It shows how cities can innovate beyond policy to deliver practical results on the ground.

While challenges remain, including a sizable population still outside the labor force, the Kigali experience suggests that integrated approaches—anchored in data, digital tools, and local leadership—can move the dial on employment.

Out of Rwanda’s working-age population, 3.1 million people (37 percent) are not in the labor market. This includes subsistence farmers, students, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Among them, 1.3 million are engaged in survival farming, while 1.8 million fall into non-working categories.

JobNet, however, speaks directly to those caught in the middle—educated, motivated, but unemployed youth. It is a model of what is possible when cities put their numbers to work.

As Rwanda continues its journey toward inclusive economic transformation, Kigali JobNet stands out as a data-informed innovation with a clear impact. It turns raw statistics into real stories—and offers a pathway out of unemployment that is scalable, replicable, and above all, human.

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