Delegates during the launch event in Juba. IOM/CIENGGAN Mading

The government on Thursday launched the Labour Market Information System (LMIS) to help improve the knowledge and management of South Sudan’s workforce.

The labour market, also known as the job market, is a platform where the demand for employment by employers and the supply of employment by workers meet.

It is also a major component of any economy and is intricately linked to markets for capital, goods, and services.

In the labour market, employers compete to hire the best, and the workers compete for the most satisfying job.

Speaking during the launch of the event, the Minister of Labour, James Hoth Mai says the system is one of the country’s international obligations.

He added that the Labour Market Information System will help the country meet its global and regional commitment to migration governance.

“The Labour Market Information System is a tool to plug an alert and disseminate labour market information to support active labour market policy development,” said Minister James Hoth.

“We are working with other East African countries, member states, and at home to meet our global and regional commitment to migration governance despite the limited resources to address,” he said.

“One of the main reasons for labour migration among others is limited employment opportunities, low medium and highly skilled people in the region countries”.

For his part, Husein Abdelbagi Akol, the Vice President of the service cluster, called on the ministry to expand the exercise to states.

“This system will give us the necessary picture of demand and supply of labour force for the long-term planning of the country. The next step is to expand this exercise to all states to get a national snapshot of labour market information,” said VP Abdelbagi.

Meanwhile, during the launch event, John McCue, IOM South Sudan’s Acting Chief of Mission will empower the Government of South Sudan to formulate evidence-based policies.

“This system addresses the critical need for readily accessible and organized labour market information and statistics. We are confident that it will empower the Government of South Sudan to formulate evidence-based policies that promote labour mobility and strengthen the workforce across the country and the wider East African region,” said John.

The Labour Market Information System was handed over to the government by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to IOM, this marks a significant step towards improving the knowledge and management of the country’s workforce.

The LMIS is a powerful tool designed to collect, analyze, and disseminate comprehensive data on both labour demand and supply.

The information is essential for developing effective labour market policies, promoting employment opportunities, and ensuring a skilled and productive workforce.

The LMIS implementation was strengthened by a comprehensive labour force survey conducted in Juba County and Central Equatoria State in July and August 2023. This data provided crucial insights into the local labour market and informed the system’s initial launch.

Furthermore, IOM facilitated capacity-building training for staff within the Ministry of Labour, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage and maintain the LMIS. This ensures the system’s sustainability and its ability to provide accurate and up-to-date information over time.

South Sudan’s commitment to the Regional Ministerial Forum on Migration (RMFM) on Harmonizing Labour Migration Policies in the East and Horn of Africa underlines its dedication to safe, regular, and humane labour migration within the region.

Established in 2020, the RMFM promotes collaborative approaches and social dialogue to build a sound and rights-based framework for labour mobility.

The LMIS development is part of the “Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Labour Mobility and Regional Integration for Safe, Orderly and Humane Labour Migration in East and Horn of Africa” programme, generously funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

This collaboration underscores the international commitment to supporting South Sudan’s efforts towards a well-informed and effectively managed labour market.

The LMIS handover marks a significant milestone in South Sudan’s journey towards a more informed and efficient labour market, paving the way for a future filled with enhanced employment opportunities and a thriving workforce.