The Tanzanian government is turning to international labour markets to address the country's growing youth job challenge. Over 15,000 Tanzanians have secured jobs abroad in the past two years, with 8,804 connected to employment opportunities between January and September this year alone. This strategy aims to ease pressure on the domestic labour market, which faces a mismatch between the number of young people entering the workforce and available jobs.
According to the Labour Force Survey 2021 and the 2007 National Youth Development Policy, revised in 2024, about one million young people enter the labour market annually in Tanzania, while universities produce around 800,000 graduates each year. However, only about 200,000 young people secure employment annually, leaving a large number competing for limited opportunities. The government sees expanding access to international labour markets as part of the response to this employment challenge.
Minister responsible for Labour, Employment and Relations, Deus Sangu, announced that Tanzania will host the Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility and Employment on October 5 and 6. The meeting will bring together African countries and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, to discuss labour mobility and cooperation. The first Doha Dialogue was held in Qatar in May 2024, involving 33 countries, including 25 African nations.
Historically, employment opportunities for Tanzanians in the Gulf have been associated with domestic work, a sector that has raised concerns over exploitation of migrant workers. However, Mr. Sangu stated that the government is now negotiating opportunities in professional fields, including teaching, medicine, and engineering. This shift towards skilled employment could increase the economic value of Tanzania's growing pool of educated young people.
The government expects to announce opportunities for over 600 engineers and technicians, while further negotiations with a major Gulf company are expected to create another 4,500 jobs. Development analyst Samson Sombi noted that international employment could reduce pressure on the domestic labour market while increasing household incomes through remittances. However, he cautioned that long-term benefits depend on the quality of jobs secured.
To protect workers from exploitation, the government is tightening controls. No private recruitment agency is allowed to transport Tanzanians abroad for employment outside the government's official systems. Workers are required to have formal employment contracts, reviewed through the Prime Minister's Office, to protect workers' rights and ensure corresponding wages. The government also requires employers to coordinate with Tanzanian embassies before workers begin employment.
The measures have helped address concerns over passport confiscation, exploitation, and other forms of abuse, with no such cases reported to the ministry between January and September this year. The Dar es Salaam meeting will focus on strengthening bilateral labour agreements, matching workers' skills with labour-market demand, and developing migration systems capable of responding to technological change and new forms of work.
Key points
- Over 15,000 Tanzanians have secured jobs abroad in the past two years.
- The government is shifting its focus from domestic work to professional fields such as teaching, medicine, and engineering.
- Tanzania will host the Second Doha Dialogue on Labour Mobility and Employment to discuss labour mobility and cooperation with African and Gulf countries.
