Bishoftu Airport Project Requires Massive Workforce Supply: Report

Project Lenders seek Environmental, Social assessment for funding decisions

Construction of the Bishoftu International Airport is projected to require a workforce supply that could annually rise and reach 100,000 workers by 2029according to a Labor Management Procedure document.

The document, prepared by dar Sidara company and ETG designers and consultants for the Bishoftu International Airport (BIA) project; outlines labor management strategies for the largest aviation infrastructure underway at 40 kilometer south of Addis Ababa.

Launched by Ethiopian Airlines Group (EAG) recently, the project is intended to relieve congestion at Bole International Airport and support the airline Group’s long term expansion as a global aviation hub.

According to the document, labor demand will increase rapidly during the construction phase, with workforce demand projections climbing from 50,000 workers in 2026 and 70,000 in 2027. The project will require 90,000 workforce in 2028, and eventually reaching 100,000 by 2029 as construction activities intensify.

The project documents note that while some highly specialized engineers and supervisors may be recruited from outside the immediate project area, priority will be given to local recruitment for semi-skilled and unskilled labor positions in order to limit labor migration pressures.

The project is expected to generate employment opportunities across multiple sectors, including construction, engineering, logistics, environmental management, and airport operations.

In parallel with labor planning, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) seeking consulting firm to serve as the Lenders’ Environmental and Social Advisor (LESA)to undertake an independent assessment of the environmental and social aspects of BIA for the benefit of the Lenders prior to decision making. Ethiopian Airlines designated AfDB as Initial Mandated Lead Arranger (IMLA).

Under the proposed arrangement, the advisor will review, monitor, and report on the environmental and social performance of the projectensuring compliance with lenders’ policies and international safeguard standards.

AfDB stated that a shortlist of six consulting firms will be drawn following evaluation of submitted expressions of interest. The Bank notified potential firms to submit the EoI electronically to AfDB officials by 27 February 2026.

The first development phase of BIA will be designed to handle up to 60 million passengers annuallywhile later expansion phases will increase capacity to 110 million passengers per yearpositioning the facility among the largest aviation hubs in the world.

The project site covers an area located in Abusera Woreda near Bishoftuencompassing several rural kebeles with a combined population of nearly 14,000 residents across more than 2,400 households.