The purpose of this study is to assess fonnal TVET programmes for self-employment inrnselected occupational fields of govel'11ment colleges in Addis Ababa. The study used arndescriptive survey method to assess five govel'11ment TVET colleges in Addis Ababa. Thernsubject of the study were 396 trainees, 65 vocational trainers, 15 entrepreneurship trainers,rntwo deans, and the deputy head of formal TVET in Addis Ababa. Accordingly, the respondentsrnsampling was carried out thorough stratified, purposive, and availability sampling techniques.rnThe data was obtained from these sample respondents through questionnaires, interviews, andrnobservation of actual setting and document analysis. The collected data were analyzed usingrnpercentage and frequency counts, weighted mean, F-test, and chi-square. The outcome of therndata analysis revealed that trainees were assigned based on their high school results, and thosernwith the best academic results are prioritized in keeping trainees' choice of occupationalrninterest for the programmes. As the finding revealed, the selection and placement of traineesrndid not consistence with self-employment as an intended outcome. Besides, trainees did notrnacquire adequate vocational and entrepreneurial skills needed self-employment from the TVETrncolleges. As the results identified, start-up and follow-up support, and organizing trainees as arngroup to establish enterprise were the most significant self-employment supports needed byrntrainees to become self-employed. However, the status of TVET colleges in facilitating the selfemploymentrnsupports was weak. Based on this, improvement in placement of trainees;rnimprovement in the relevance of the training programmes, and strengthening TVETrninstitutions to facilitate start-up and follow-up supports were the majority of respondents'rnpossible suggestions that formal TVET programmes for self-employment as intended au tcomernin Addis Ababa. On the top of this, it is clear that there are limits to what can be achievedrnth1'Ough training. However, delivering the training alone is not sufficient by itself forrnsuccessful self-employment programs. Therefore, it recommended tlwt more attention be paidrnto the selection and placement of those with the needs (lnd aspirations by creating a mechanismrnfor TVET as a early career option for self-employment, delivering quality training though thernprovision of marketable skills with adequate entrepreneurial competencies, and facilitatingrnaccess to self-employment opportil11ities.