Latest statistics from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) show that manufacturing is expected to create 9,900 new job opportunities over the next five years, accounting for a quarter of the jobs projected to be created in the next five years.

According to RDB, investment commitments registered by the Board in 2023 are expected to generate 40,198 job opportunities by 2029. The investment commitments grew by 50 per cent to reach $2.4 billion (RWF 3 trillion) compared to the previous year.

RDB forecasts that the agriculture sub-sector will continue to thrive, contributing to the creation of 7,600 jobs over the same period.

Real estate is expected to create 6,200 new jobs by 2029 while the agro-processing sub-sector will contribute some 4,400 jobs to the economy.

Additionally, the construction sector will generate 2,700 jobs while the accommodation and food services sub-sector will create 2,600 job opportunities over the next five years.

Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply are poised to create an additional 1,500 new job opportunities, followed by the arts and entertainment sub-sector, where approximately 600 opportunities will be generated.

The financial and insurance sectors, along with administrative and support service activities, are expected to generate 500 and 200 jobs respectively over the next half-decade.

It is also worth noting that most of the new jobs in the real estate, arts and entertainment, recreation, manufacturing, and construction sectors will be created in the capital Kigali, which attracted investments worth $2.1 billion (RWF 2.7 trillion). This accounts for 83.4 per cent of the total investments registered in 2023.

The Eastern Province which attracted investment worth $262.9 million (RWF 336 billion) in 2023 will create new job opportunities in administrative and support service, manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, agriculture, forestry and fishing sub-sectors.

The Northern Province with investments totalling $60.8 million (RWF 77.8 billion) is expected to create new jobs in agro-processing, manufacturing, accommodation and food service activities and mining and quarrying.

Jobs in agriculture, forestry, fishing, real estate, agro-processing, manufacturing, transportation and storage, energy, accommodation, and food services will contribute to the creation of new jobs in the Southern and Western provinces, which attracted investments totalling $46.9 million (RWF 60 billion) and $40.6 million (RWF 52 billion) respectively.