Rwanda Celebrates Labour Day, Emphasizing Technology’s Role in Youth Employment

By The Inspirer.

International Labour Day on May 1, 2024, was celebrated, highlighting the pivotal role of technology in addressing youth unemployment.

The Government of Rwanda proudly announces the achievement of its job creation target, particularly for youth and women, exceeding 90%. However, the challenge of limited access to technology persists for many.

This year’s Labour Day celebration in Rwanda brought together over 200 delegates from various sectors who participated in the inauguration of the ‘Employment Promotion Month’ alongside the commencement of the ‘Boosting Decent Jobs and Enhancing Skills for Youth in Rwanda’s Digital Economy’ project.

Emphasizing the theme ’30 Years: Fostering Youth-Led Employment,’ the event underscored the importance of collaborative efforts among public, private, and development partners in addressing youth unemployment and bolstering Rwanda’s digital workforce.

Professor Jeannette Bayisenge, Minister of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA), reflects on the government’s Seven-Year Plan (NST1) spanning 2017 to 2024, which aimed to generate a minimum of 1.5 million jobs.

“We have surpassed this milestone, with over 90% job creation as of 2023,” states Prof. Bayisenge.

“Approximately 80% of these opportunities are extended to the youth, reflecting the collective efforts of our partners.” She adds.

MIFOTRA, in collaboration with other ministries, NGOs, and the private sector, aims to further augment employment opportunities, targeting an additional goal of “perhaps creating 250 thousand jobs per year.”

 

Discussions on Wednesday regarding the three-decade journey of community entrepreneurship underscored the indispensable role of technology, especially social media, in facilitating job opportunities for young people and women.

Marie Deborah Dukunde, employed at Ihaha Technology, a company facilitating commerce through technology, emphasizes the significance of platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter in job networking.

“Gone are the days of solely relying on traditional methods; the modern approach involves leveraging the internet to connect and explore job prospects,” she explains.

Felicien Niyomugabo, a beneficiary of social media support, advocates for Rwandan youth to not only utilize existing technology but also to innovate and create their own platforms.

According to the 2022 population census by the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR), youths aged 16-30 constitute over 3.6 million, comprising 27.1% of the country’s total population.

Despite widespread access to electronic devices, as indicated by 78% of households owning a telephone (primarily feature phones), only 4% possess a computer. Moreover, approximately 6.5 million out of 8.2 million Rwandans aged 15 and above are literate and able to engage with technology tools.

However, nearly 2 million individuals lack the requisite skills to effectively utilize smartphones or computers, highlighting the importance of digital literacy programs encompassing foundational education and technical training.

theinspirerpublications@gmail.com