Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Providing Detail Overview of the Ethiopian Printing Industry, Including the Number of Active Publishers, Job Opportunities, and Market Condition

Received: 21 October 2025     Accepted: 24 November 2025     Published: 26 December 2025
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Abstract

The local printing industry is integral to the global economy, particularly in sectors like education and media. Despite its potential, the industry faces significant challenges that hinder growth and efficiency. With a local production capacity of approximately 158 million textbooks, there is a compelling opportunity to reduce dependency on imported materials, which currently costs around $35.78 million annually. This financial drain not only affects foreign currency reserves but also limits local job creation and stifles technological innovation. The local printing sector could increase employments from 5,000, to 7,506, if the text books printing allowed locally. This growth would not only empower communities economically but also foster technology transfer, helping local firms remain competitive in the global market. However, many businesses struggle due to outdated technology and infrastructure, which restricts production capacity and product quality. Additionally, attracting skilled labor is a notable challenge, exacerbated by a lack of vocational training and awareness of career opportunities in printing Industries. Market uncertainties, compounded by fluctuating raw material prices and insufficient financial resources, further inhibit competitiveness. The absence of comprehensive government policies to support the local printing Industry sector significantly limits growth potential. A thorough assessment of the industry's capability to meet educational demands is crucial for identifying operational strengths and critical issues. Addressing these challenges can lead to a more resilient local printing industry that contributes to educational sustainability and broader economic development.

Published in Research and Innovation (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ri.20260201.14
Page(s) 29-41
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Challenges, Economic Role, Job Creation, Market Competition, Policy Framework, Printing Industry, Technology

References
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[3] Mtshali, E. P., Nyakala, K. S., Munyai, T. T. “Identifying Causes of Low Productivity in the Printing Industry.” 2018, pp. 933-944.
[4] Liu, Y., Li, F., Zhao, D., Tao, J. “Digital Printing Helps Printers to Transform and Develop: A Study of 8 Printers Around Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.” Proceedings of the 2023 3rd International Conference on Financial Management and Economic Transition (FMET 2023). Atlantis Press, 2023.
[5] Mathews, B. “Dynamics of Networking: A Case Study of Printing Industry in Kerala.” Business Economics. 2019, 6(6), 673-675.
[6] Gebrewolde, T. M., Rockey, J. “The Effectiveness of Industrial Policy in Developing Countries: Causal Evidence from Ethiopian Manufacturing Firms.” Journal of Development Effectiveness. 2022, 00(00), 1-27.
[7] Gebrehiwot, B. A. “Industrial Policy and Structural Transformation in Ethiopia.” 2022.
[8] Krishnaswamy, N. “A Study on the Effect of Population Growth on Printing Industry in India.” International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies. 2025, 5(5), 1210-1214.
[9] Gyamfi, F. D. “The Triple Bottom Line of Printing Enterprises in Accra: Evaluating Economic Performance, Environmental Sustainability and Social Responsibility.” Journal of African Arts & Culture. 2025, 8(1), 77-109.
[10] Latif, N. A., Azly, N., Ali, M. “Skilled Workers Shortages in the Printing Industry: Perspectives from Industry Experts.” International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Management Practices. 2025.
[11] Kulkarni, V. D. “Role of Technology in Developing Indian Print Industry.” International Journal of Information Technology and Management. 2021, 16(1), 1-7.
[12] Masod, M. Y., Zakaria, S. F., Author, C. “Redefining Malaysia’s Printing Landscape: Insights from Porter’s.” 2024, 19(1).
[13] Priya, K. S. “Impact of Technological Upgradation on Printing Units in Virudhunagar District.” International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development. 2018, 5(2), 960-963.
[14] Zenkin, M., Makatora, D., Makatora, A. “The Analysis of Printing Equipment Manufacturing.” 2022, pp. 69-72.
[15] “Publishing Business vs the Internet: How Has the World Wide Web Affected the Economics and Marketing of Printing Companies?” University Economic Bulletin. 2025, 20(1).
[16] Davis, R. H. “Business Economics and the Printing Industry.” Business Economics. 2014, 49(2), 122-126.
[17] Garrison, D. R. “Role of Instructional Technology in the Transformation of Higher Education.” Educational Technology Research and Development. 2017, 65(1), 133-144.
[18] Zakari, M. “The Relationship Between Corporate Social Responsibility and Profitability: The Case of Dangote Cement Plc.” Journal of Finance and Accounting. 2017, 5(4), 171.
[19] Mamo, Y. A., Sisay, A. M., Dessalegn, B., Angaw, K. W. “The Socio-economic Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Local Community Development in Southern Ethiopia.” Cogent Business and Management. 2023, 10(1), 1-22.
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  • APA Style

    Geda, S. D., Ashetu, T. T. (2025). Providing Detail Overview of the Ethiopian Printing Industry, Including the Number of Active Publishers, Job Opportunities, and Market Condition. Research and Innovation, 2(1), 29-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ri.20260201.14

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    ACS Style

    Geda, S. D.; Ashetu, T. T. Providing Detail Overview of the Ethiopian Printing Industry, Including the Number of Active Publishers, Job Opportunities, and Market Condition. Res. Innovation 2025, 2(1), 29-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ri.20260201.14

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    AMA Style

    Geda SD, Ashetu TT. Providing Detail Overview of the Ethiopian Printing Industry, Including the Number of Active Publishers, Job Opportunities, and Market Condition. Res Innovation. 2025;2(1):29-41. doi: 10.11648/j.ri.20260201.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ri.20260201.14,
      author = {Sisay Demissie Geda and Tujuba Tamiru Ashetu},
      title = {Providing Detail Overview of the Ethiopian Printing Industry, Including the Number of Active Publishers, Job Opportunities, and Market Condition},
      journal = {Research and Innovation},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {29-41},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ri.20260201.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ri.20260201.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ri.20260201.14},
      abstract = {The local printing industry is integral to the global economy, particularly in sectors like education and media. Despite its potential, the industry faces significant challenges that hinder growth and efficiency. With a local production capacity of approximately 158 million textbooks, there is a compelling opportunity to reduce dependency on imported materials, which currently costs around $35.78 million annually. This financial drain not only affects foreign currency reserves but also limits local job creation and stifles technological innovation. The local printing sector could increase employments from 5,000, to 7,506, if the text books printing allowed locally. This growth would not only empower communities economically but also foster technology transfer, helping local firms remain competitive in the global market. However, many businesses struggle due to outdated technology and infrastructure, which restricts production capacity and product quality. Additionally, attracting skilled labor is a notable challenge, exacerbated by a lack of vocational training and awareness of career opportunities in printing Industries. Market uncertainties, compounded by fluctuating raw material prices and insufficient financial resources, further inhibit competitiveness. The absence of comprehensive government policies to support the local printing Industry sector significantly limits growth potential. A thorough assessment of the industry's capability to meet educational demands is crucial for identifying operational strengths and critical issues. Addressing these challenges can lead to a more resilient local printing industry that contributes to educational sustainability and broader economic development.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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    AU  - Sisay Demissie Geda
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    AB  - The local printing industry is integral to the global economy, particularly in sectors like education and media. Despite its potential, the industry faces significant challenges that hinder growth and efficiency. With a local production capacity of approximately 158 million textbooks, there is a compelling opportunity to reduce dependency on imported materials, which currently costs around $35.78 million annually. This financial drain not only affects foreign currency reserves but also limits local job creation and stifles technological innovation. The local printing sector could increase employments from 5,000, to 7,506, if the text books printing allowed locally. This growth would not only empower communities economically but also foster technology transfer, helping local firms remain competitive in the global market. However, many businesses struggle due to outdated technology and infrastructure, which restricts production capacity and product quality. Additionally, attracting skilled labor is a notable challenge, exacerbated by a lack of vocational training and awareness of career opportunities in printing Industries. Market uncertainties, compounded by fluctuating raw material prices and insufficient financial resources, further inhibit competitiveness. The absence of comprehensive government policies to support the local printing Industry sector significantly limits growth potential. A thorough assessment of the industry's capability to meet educational demands is crucial for identifying operational strengths and critical issues. Addressing these challenges can lead to a more resilient local printing industry that contributes to educational sustainability and broader economic development.
    VL  - 2
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