Across Ethiopia’s Technical and Vocational Training (TVT) system, women are entering fields that were once considered the domain of men. While progress is visible, significant gender gaps remain in both leadership and technical specialisations. The Ministry of Labor and Skills aims to enable women to hold 50% of leadership positions in the TVT and employment sector by 2028.
According to recent data from the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS), women represented 14.8% of TVT leaders nationally in 2025, compared to 7.2% in 2023. Although this increase indicates gradual progress, disparities remain across regions. Afar and Gambela reported no female leaders, while Addis Ababa reached 26% female representation in TVT leadership roles.
Gender gaps remain visible in TVT enrolment patterns, with many women concentrated in fields traditionally associated with caregiving and service roles. In contrast, technical and engineering-related sectors continue to attract fewer female students, reflecting long-standing cultural perceptions that these are male dominated careers.
