KEYIR NEWS - The Addis Ababa City Roads Authority has announced that it generated more than 14,000 employment opportunities during the 2024/25 fiscal year, underscoring its dual role in improving urban infrastructure and driving inclusive economic growth.
According to the Authority, a wide range of jobs were created through road construction, maintenance, and related infrastructure projects across the capital. These opportunities were designed not only to enhance the city’s connectivity but also to provide sustainable livelihoods, particularly targeting women and youth.
Officials emphasized that new technologies and tailored training programs were deployed to ensure equitable access to job opportunities in the sector. Women and young people, who often face barriers in the construction industry, were given priority to participate in pedestrian walkway construction, cobblestone paving, and drainage projects.
“This is more than just road building, it is community building,” an official from the Authority noted. “By opening opportunities for women and youth, we are ensuring that infrastructure development is also a tool for social empowerment.”
The Roads Authority reported that more than 14,000 individuals were engaged across different community associations and cooperative groups formed specifically for urban road development. The work spanned pedestrian street construction, cobblestone layering, routine maintenance, and stormwater drainage improvements.
These projects were not limited to short-term contracts but also built long-term capacity among citizens, equipping them with skills and experience to remain active in Ethiopia’s growing infrastructure sector.
Economists note that large-scale infrastructure projects such as road construction have a multiplier effect on the economy. Beyond immediate job creation, they stimulate local businesses by improving access to markets, reducing transportation costs, and attracting investment.
“Every kilometer of road built or maintained has ripple effects,” said one urban development analyst. “It creates direct jobs during construction, supports small vendors who serve workers, and later makes it easier for traders and commuters to move goods and services efficiently.”
For Addis Ababa, a city grappling with rapid urbanization and high unemployment among youth, the creation of 14,000 jobs represents both economic relief and a model for inclusive development.
The use of community-based associations in delivering road projects has also encouraged a sense of local ownership. Citizens working on cobblestone and pedestrian projects are not only earning an income but also contributing directly to the transformation of their neighborhoods.
This participatory model, city officials argue, strengthens social cohesion and ensures the sustainability of infrastructure investments.
The Addis Ababa City Roads Authority has signaled that job creation will remain central to its mission. Future projects are expected to expand employment opportunities further, particularly as the city continues to invest in modern transport networks, green pedestrian corridors, and climate-resilient drainage systems.
As Ethiopia’s capital positions itself as a hub for growth and modernization, the Authority’s efforts highlight how infrastructure development can serve as both an economic driver and a platform for social inclusion. By combining physical construction with job creation, Addis Ababa is laying not only new roads but also new pathways toward prosperity for its residents.