Employment Impact Assessment Critical for the Creation of Decent Jobs
Minister of Labour, Agness Nyalonje, has underscored the importance of Employment Impact Assessments (EmpIA) in shaping Malawi’s job creation strategies, as the country pushes towards its Malawi vision 2063.
Speaking at the opening of a workshop on Employment Impact Assessments, Nyalonje said the employment assessment tool will help the government make informed investment decisions towards decent jobs creation.
“Job creation is a key priority for the Malawian government, especially in its mission to transform into an industrialized upper-middle-income country by 2063 and the importance of this data-driven decision-making through the employment assessment tool cannot be overemphasized as it is designed to assess the employment impacts of investments and policies in the country,” she said.
The Minister, cited the example of the M1 Road Rehabilitation Project, which, through an EmpIA, predicted the creation of over 4,000 direct jobs, along with thousands of indirect and temporary employment opportunities. She noted that this kind of analysis is crucial for Malawi as it embarks on large-scale projects in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and health.
To further support job creation efforts, the Ministry of Labour has partnered with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to build a Labour Market Information System (LMIS) to ensure the availability of current labor data in order to monitor the impact of national policies and facilitate better planning, including preparing the workforce through targeted skills training.
In his remarks, EU Ambassador to Malawi, Rune Skinnebach, said Malawi's future success hinges on empowering its young population and creating a conducive environment for economic development stressing that addressing unemployment and providing meaningful job opportunities are essential for realizing the nation's Vision 2063—a roadmap towards an industrialized, middle-income country. The ambassador noted that the workshop serves as a pivotal platform for stakeholders to deliberate on employment strategies that will shape the country's trajectory.
“The EU remains a steadfast partner in Malawi's development journey as we remain committed to ensuring that the outcomes of the workshop translate into actionable policies that foster sustainable job creation and improve working conditions for all Malawians and this would help pave the way for economic stability and progress, in line with Malawi's long-term vision,” sais Skinnebach.
ILO’s Chief Technical Advisor, Ralf Kruger, stressed on the need for evidence-based policy making saying it is a critical tool for ensuring that decisions taken at the policy level are supported by robust data and research, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions.
He said for developing countries like Malawi, where economic growth and job creation are priorities, this method helps policymakers and stakeholders move beyond assumptions, enabling them to make decisions grounded in factual insights.
“This approach is particularly important for identifying which sectors and strategies will have the most significant impact on employment and the overall economy,” he said.
According to Kruger, the workshop not only provides a platform for sharing technical knowledge but also facilitates collaboration among various stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, and the private sector, a collaboration he says ensures that diverse perspectives are incorporated, enriching the discussions and ultimately contributing to more comprehensive and realistic policy recommendations.
He reaffirmed ILO's commitment to continue supporting Malawi by providing technical expertise and promoting policies that align with international labor standards, while also addressing the country’s unique challenges.
The training workshop has brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors as a significant step toward mainstreaming job creation into policy-making.
