Working in Mauritius: market, pay and the Occupation Permit

Unemployment edging down

According to the continuous household survey published on 19 May 2026, the unemployment rate stood at 5.7% in 2025. The number of unemployed fell from 34,900 in 2024 to 33,500. The labour force numbers 587,200 people.

More people in work

Employment reached 553,700 people in 2025, 6,700 more than in 2024. This growth does not benefit all categories of candidates equally, as the gaps between men, women and young people show.

Women and young people more exposed

Unemployment among women fell to 7.6%, compared with 8.3% a year earlier; for men it is 4.3%. Among 16 to 24-year-olds it reaches 18.4%: 21.2% for young women and 15.9% for young men.

The sectors posting the most adverts

On MyJob, tourism and travel came first with 272 vacancies, followed by accounting and finance with 185, catering with 122, marketing and sales with 111, then information technology with 106, as of 9 October 2026.

Where the jobs are concentrated

Plaines Wilhems accounted for 367 vacancies, Port Louis 303 and Pamplemousses 181. Rodrigues had only two, and eleven adverts concerned jobs abroad. The search is therefore played out mainly in the centre of the island and the capital.

Salaries shown in adverts

The latest vacancies consulted on MyJob showed pay of 21,000 to 30,000 rupees per month. These are advertised amounts, not a national statistic; they vary widely depending on the position, experience and employer.

Minimum wage: a regularly revised framework

The national minimum wage is based on the National Wage Consultative Council Act 2016 and the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2017, amended in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The government has announced an increase, but the amount in rupees has not been verified.

The Occupation Permit for skilled profiles

This permit combines work and residence. It comes in Investor and Self-Employed versions, valid for up to ten years, and a Professional version, valid for three years or the length of the contract. The Young Professional OP, limited to three years, is filed by the employer with the EDB.

Towards permanent residence

A Professional holder can aim for a twenty-year residence permit if they earn a basic salary of 150,000 rupees per month for three consecutive years. The thresholds for investors and the self-employed are based on turnover or annual income.

The Work Permit for other employees

Foreign workers outside the Occupation Permit fall under the Work Permit, managed by the employment division of the Ministry of Labour. An application guide published in 2016 lists the documents. Hospitality profiles should also read tourism careers in Africa.

Finance and services: a regional hub

With 185 vacancies in accounting and finance, this field was the second-largest category on MyJob on 9 October 2026. Our page banking and finance jobs compares these opportunities with those in other African financial centres.

Comparing with neighbouring islands

Malagasy candidates find Mauritian vacancies on PortalJob Madagascar, described in our Madagascar page. In the Seychelles, employers must prove that no local candidate is available before hiring a foreigner, a useful rule to know before choosing between the two archipelagos.

Mauritian authorities and platforms

• Statistics Mauritius: National statistics office, which publishes employment and unemployment figures every year.
• Ministère du Travail – salaire minimum: Page listing the National Wage Consultative Council texts and the minimum wage regulations.
• Passport and Immigration Office: Office that details the Occupation Permit categories, their durations and the conditions for permanent residence.
• Economic Development Board (EDB): Body whose Occupation Permit Unit receives Young Professional applications; it explains the steps to work in Mauritius.
• MyJob Mauritius: Mauritian job board listing 1,515 vacancies on 9 October 2026, including Rodrigues and jobs abroad.

Preparing an application in Mauritius

1. Target growth sectors: tourism, finance, catering, sales or information technology.
2. Write a CV in English, with a French version for the island's French-speaking employers.
3. Set up alerts on MyJob filtered by region, especially Plaines Wilhems and Port Louis.
4. If you are a foreigner, establish with the employer whether you need an Occupation Permit or a Work Permit.
5. Gather degrees, certificates and a criminal record extract before submitting the permit application.
6. Only start working after receiving the official permit.

The Mauritian labour market in figures

Supporting documents to prepare

• CV in English, possibly with a French version
• Valid passport
• Certified degrees and transcripts
• Employment contract or offer letter
• Criminal record certificate
• Occupation Permit or Work Permit application, depending on your profile

Costly mistakes to avoid

• Paying an intermediary who promises a hotel job in Mauritius: a work permit cannot be bought and a legitimate employer charges nothing.
• Starting work on a visitor visa while waiting for the permit, which exposes you to deportation.
• Confusing the Occupation Permit with the Work Permit: conditions, bodies and duration differ according to profile.
• Taking the salaries shown in a few adverts as a national standard applicable to all positions.
• Forgetting your permit's expiry date: a Professional Occupation Permit lasts three years or the length of the contract, and renewal must be planned with the employer.

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