SADC and ILO Conclude Final Workshop for Labour Market Observatory Development in Johannesburg

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), successfully convened the SADC Labour Market Observatory (LMO) Data Preparation and ETL Workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 20-24 October 2025. This workshop marked the third and final session in the series dedicated to implementing the SADC LMO.

The SADC LMO aims to create a regional platform that compiles and organises labour market data from all Member States, enabling reporting across multiple dimensions of Decent Work. The initiative will provide policymakers, analysts, and stakeholders with harmonised, high-quality data to support evidence-based decisions and employment policy development.

The five-day workshop focused on uploading, validating, and testing national datasets on the LMIS.Stat platform. This phase follows earlier sessions on SDMX standards and data modelling, and represents a critical step before the Observatory’s official launch. The technical activities included reviewing indicators, finalising dashboards, and ensuring the usability of visualisation tools to support regional reporting and analysis.

During the opening session, Dr Maxwell Parakokwa, Senior Programme Officer for Employment, Labour and Youth at the SADC Secretariat, emphasised the strategic importance of the Observatory. He noted that the LMO will provide Member States with timely, comparable, and reliable labour market data to enhance planning, policy formulation, and implementation. “Through the LMO, Member States will have access to quality data that strengthens decision-making and promotes decent work,” Dr Parakokwa stated.

The workshop brought together labour statisticians, ICT experts, and labour market analysts from across the SADC region. Participants collaborated to ensure datasets were correctly uploaded, validated, and aligned with regional standards, setting the foundation for a fully operational Observatory.

In parallel, participants joined the global celebration of World Statistics Day 2025 under the theme, “Driving Change with Quality Statistics and Data for Everyone.” The observance reinforced the critical role of accurate and reliable data in supporting development, regional integration, and evidence-driven policymaking.

The SADC Labour Market Observatory is being developed under the SADC Regional Statistics Project, financed by the World Bank. Once operational, the LMO will serve as a regional hub for labour market information, improving coordination, accessibility, and comparability of data across all Member States. The project is expected to strengthen regional cooperation and provide governments with the tools needed to monitor employment trends, inform labour policy, and advance Decent Work in Southern Africa.