SADC Closes in on Regional Labour Data Hub to Transform Employment Policy
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has convened the final SADC Labour Market Observatory (LMO) Data Preparation and ETL Workshop from 20–24 October 2025. This marks the third and concluding workshop in the series supporting the implementation of the SADC LMO.
The SADC LMO is set to provide a regional platform that compiles and organises labour market data from all Member States, reporting on multiple dimensions of Decent Work. The final technical phase focuses on uploading, validating, and testing national datasets on the LMIS.Stat platform—a crucial step ahead of the Observatory’s official launch.
Dr Maxwell Parakokwa, Senior Programme Officer – Employment, Labour and Youth at the SADC Secretariat, described the Observatory as a significant milestone for the region. “Through the LMO, Member States will have access to comparable, timely, and high-quality labour market data to inform decision-making, planning, and employment policy development,” he said during the workshop’s opening session.
Over the five-day workshop, labour statisticians, ICT specialists, and labour market analysts from across the region worked to complete data uploads, validate key indicators, and review visualisation tools and dashboards designed to support regional reporting and analysis.
Participants also joined the global community in celebrating World Statistics Day 2025 under the theme, “Driving Change with Quality Statistics and Data for Everyone.” The celebration emphasised the role of reliable data as a foundation for development and regional integration.
The SADC Labour Market Observatory is being developed under the SADC Regional Statistics Project, financed by the World Bank. Once operational, it will serve as a central hub for labour market information, enhancing coordination, comparability, and accessibility of data across all Member States.
