Looking for work in Angola: data and procedures

Angolan unemployment measured by a new series

The INE employment survey gives a rate of 20.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025. This is a new series: the institute advises against any comparison with earlier figures, which rules out concluding that unemployment has either risen or fallen.

Towns and countryside: almost identical rates

Unemployment reached 20.1% in urban areas and 20.4% in rural areas at the end of 2025. The gap is small, but the nature of jobs differs sharply: informality affects 75.7% of employed people in towns against 93.2% in the countryside.

Young Angolans and their first job

Among 15 to 24-year-olds, the unemployment rate climbs to 43.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025. A young graduate is therefore better off combining internships, short assignments and professional networks rather than waiting for a single offer that exactly matches their training.

Nearly eight jobs in ten outside the formal sector

Informal employment accounts for 78.6% of the employed population, which numbers 8,876,650 people aged 15 and over. For an employee, this often means no written contract or social contributions: always ask for these guarantees before committing yourself.

Trade, agriculture, industry: who employs

Wholesale and retail trade, together with repairs, accounts for 33.3% of employed people. Agriculture, forestry and fishing follow with 16.8%, then manufacturing with 4.8%. Our guide to careers in sales and trade describes these occupations in detail.

Services and sales: the largest occupational group

By occupation, service and sales workers form the largest group, with 41.9% of employed people at the end of 2025. Positions such as cashier, sales assistant or receptionist are therefore a frequent entry point into the Angolan labour market.

Oil and gas: visible employers in Luanda

On Emprego.co.ao, vacancies in Luanda come from employers including Total, Maersk Line, Standard Bank and Angola LNG. Engineers and technicians will find useful pointers on jobs in hydrocarbons and energy before targeting these recruiters.

Minimum wage: 70,000 kwanzas

On 26 June 2024, the Council of Ministers approved a presidential decree setting the national minimum wage at 70,000 kwanzas. A reduced rate of 50,000 kwanzas applies to micro-enterprises, start-ups and domestic workers, according to the official government announcement.

The planned path towards 100,000 kwanzas

The same decree provides for a gradual increase to 100,000 kwanzas twelve months after its entry into force. The exact date of application and the amount actually paid today are not confirmed by our sources: ask the employer for the current figure.

Ministry, employment agency and visa: the gaps

Our notes confirm neither the current name of the labour ministry, nor the public employment service, nor the work visa rules. Before relocating, ask the Angolan consulate and the employer about the exact procedure and processing times.

Where to browse Angolan vacancies

Emprego.co.ao publishes adverts from companies based in Luanda, with employer profiles. JobnetAfrica offers senior positions for local and expatriate candidates. For other countries, our selection of African job sites complements these two sources.

Working in Portuguese and English-speaking neighbours

Some candidates also look south and east. The situation in Namibia and that of Zambia follow different permit rules and use other working languages, with English replacing Portuguese in recruitment processes across both countries.

Sources and platforms for Angola

• Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE): Statistics institute that publishes Angola's quarterly employment survey, the IEA.
• Portail du gouvernement angolais: Official government website that announced the decree setting the national minimum wage at 70,000 kwanzas.
• Emprego.co.ao: Angolan job site with vacancies in Luanda and profiles of major employers.
• JobnetAfrica: Platform for senior vacancies in Africa aimed at local candidates and expatriates.
• ReliefWeb Jobs: International platform for humanitarian and development vacancies, searchable by country.

How to land a position in Angola

1. Prepare a CV in Portuguese, plus an English version for oil companies and international groups.
2. Check with the Angolan consulate which type of visa is required for salaried employment.
3. Target Luanda and the employers visible on Emprego.co.ao, then follow their profiles.
4. Ask each recruiter for the proposed salary and compare it with the national minimum in force.
5. Insist on a written contract stating your social protection before you leave or take up the post.
6. Keep digital copies of your qualifications, contract and correspondence with the employer.

Angolan labour market indicators

Useful documents for Angola

• CV in Portuguese and English
• Legalised and translated qualifications
• Valid passport
• Work visa obtained before departure
• Signed employment contract
• Police clearance certificate
• Employment certificates from previous employers

Mistakes to avoid in Angola

• Paying an intermediary who promises an oil industry job in exchange for processing fees: genuine recruiters never charge candidates.
• Entering on a tourist visa in order to start working, when the work visa procedure must be completed beforehand.
• Comparing 2025 unemployment with earlier INE series, which the institute itself advises against.
• Accepting a job without a written contract, a common situation in a market where informality is close to 79%.
• Neglecting Portuguese: even in international groups, it is often expected for dealings with local partners.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueJob.com does not recruit and never asks for money: beware of offers that demand fees.