The Refugees Proclamation No.1110/2019, under article 26 (1), entitles recognized refugees and asylum seekers the right to wage-earning employment in the same circumstances as the most favorable treatment accorded to foreign nationals. However, as per article 26 (4), those recognized refugees and asylum seekers employed in rural and urban projects jointly designed by the Ethiopian Government and the international community to benefit refugees and Ethiopian nationals shall be given equal treatment as accorded to Ethiopian nationals engaged in the same projects. Further, article 16 (2) of the Directive to Determine the Procedure for Refugees Right to Work, Directive No. 02/2019, a recognized refugee or asylum seeker may engage in wage earning employment upon obtaining a work permit from the competent government body. In case of those refugees that are selected to be employed in joint projects, as per article 7 of the same Directive, they may be allowed to work by obtaining a residence permit, without a need a need for a work permit.

Generally, foreign nationals in Ethiopia have very limited right to wage-earning employment. As expounded in the Labor Proclamation, No. 1156/2019, art. 176 and Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Revised Directives on the Issuance of Work Permits for Expatriates in Ethiopia (2019), many sectors of employment are outside the purview of foreign nationals owing to the fact that Ethiopian laws reserve parts of the job market to Ethiopian nationals. Further, as stated under Federal Civil Servants Proclamation, Proclamation No. 1064/2017, art. 15, some public service employments in government institutions including armed forces, police force and courts are not accessible for foreign nationals. Therefore, these sectors will also be outside the reach of refugees and asylum seekers as the Ethiopian legislation imposed restrictions on foreign nationals aspiring to engage in these sectors.

Nevertheless, Foreign Nationals of Ethiopian Origin (FNEO) are the most favored foreign nationals in Ethiopia who are eligible to be employed on equal footing with Ethiopian nationals with few exceptions. Article 5(2) of the Proclamation Providing Foreign Nationals of Ethiopian Origin with Certain Rights to be exercised in their Country of Origin, Proclamation No. 270/2002 (FNEO Proclamation) provides that FNEO have the right to be employed in Ethiopia without a work permit. Article 15 of Federal Civil Servant Proclamation provides that a person who is not an Ethiopian national may not be eligible to be a civil servant. Nevertheless, the provision makes two notable exceptions. Firstly, the prohibition does not apply to FNEO. Secondly, Article 21(2) of the Federal Civil Servant Proclamation stipulates that a government institution may appoint a foreign national on temporary bases, where it is proved that it is impossible to fill a vacant position that requires high level of professional by an Ethiopian through promotion, transfer or recruitment. Yet, Ethiopia restricts certain public sector posts to its own nationals since these posts involve the exercise of public authority and the responsibility for safeguarding the general interest of the state. Article 6(2) of the FNEO Proclamation prohibits regular employment in national defense, security service, foreign affairs and other similar political establishments. These public posts are related to the specific functions of the state including armed forces, police force, judges and prosecutors. The Federal Attorney General Establishment Proclamation No. 943/2016, under article 11 (2) (d), provides that one of the requirements that must be fulfilled for appointment as a public prosecutor is that of Ethiopian nationality. The Amended Federal Judicial Administration Council Establishment Proclamation No. 684/2016, under article 11 (1), also provides Ethiopian nationality as one of the requirements to be appointed as a federal judge in Federal Courts in the country. Ethiopian nationality is also one of the requirements to serve as a member of the armed forces as provided under the Defense Forces Proclamation No. 1100/2019.