Looking for a job in Somalia: realities and resources

Outdated Somali statistics

The draft national employment policy of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) relies on the 2014 labour force survey. A 2019 survey appears in the National Bureau of Statistics catalogue, with no verified results.

Unemployment in Somalia: women and young people hit harder

According to these 2014 data, unemployment reached 12%, with 9.1% among men and 16.6% among women. Among 15 to 24-year-olds it reached 22%, and more than 35% in Banadir and Bay.

Vulnerable employment and insecurity in Somalia

Four jobs in ten were considered vulnerable, a proportion reaching 53.3% among women compared with 35.6% among men. This insecurity often means no written contract, no social protection and no regular income.

Livestock, the backbone of Somali employment

Nearly 63% of people in work are employed in agriculture, and less than 10% in the secondary sector. Livestock represents 56.8% of agricultural output. Vets and livestock technicians should see our page on agriculture and agribusiness.

Somalia's 1972 Labour Code

Law No. 65 of 18 October 1972 remains the Labour Code in force. The ILO announces that a revised code has been finalised, although the adoption date is not confirmed by our sources. Check which text applies before invoking a provision.

No public employment service in Somalia

According to the MoLSA document, there is no public employment service. The draft proposes creating a National Employment Council (NEMPC). This text, marked as a confidential draft although published online, should be cited with caution.

Cities targeted by Somali employment programmes

The draft policy names Banadir, meaning Mogadishu, as well as Kismayo, Baidoa and Garowe as cities for employment programmes. If you are aiming for a skilled post, these urban centres are logical starting points for following vacancies.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

MoLSA devotes a section of its website to employment and job creation. It is the institutional contact for following the reform of the Labour Code, the national employment policy and future job integration schemes.

Minimum wage and work permits: nothing defined

No minimum wage is mentioned in the official source consulted, and no work permit scheme for foreigners is described there. Do not travel without a written contract and an entry procedure validated by the employer.

NGOs and humanitarian work in Somalia

ReliefWeb keeps a dedicated list of vacancies in Somalia, posted by UN agencies and NGOs. To understand the occupations and expectations of these employers, read our page on working for an NGO in Africa.

SomaliJobs and regional platforms

SomaliJobs also carries posts based outside Somalia, such as an FAO subregional coordination role in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Read each listing through to the duty station. Supplement it with NGO Jobs in Africa, Impactpool and Devex, filtered on Somalia.

Kenya and Ethiopia, regional bases

Somali platforms also carry posts based in neighbouring countries, as the Addis Ababa example shows. Consult our guides to employment in Kenya and employment in Ethiopia to learn about local working conditions.

Institutions and platforms for jobs in Somalia

• Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA): Somalia's Ministry of Labour, responsible for employment policy and the reform of the Labour Code.
• National Bureau of Statistics (NBS): National statistics bureau, which catalogues Somalia's 2019 labour force survey.
• SomaliJobs: Job vacancy site; one advert seen concerned an FAO post in Addis Ababa.
• ReliefWeb – Somalia Jobs: List of humanitarian and development vacancies based in Somalia.
• NGO Jobs in Africa: Aggregator of NGO vacancies covering around forty African countries, with country filters.
• Impactpool: United Nations, NGO and European Union vacancies, filterable by country and field.

Moving step by step towards a job in Somalia

1. Identify the organisations active in your field, then follow their adverts on ReliefWeb and SomaliJobs.
2. Prepare an English CV highlighting your field experience and languages, including Somali.
3. Ask former employers for written references, which humanitarian recruiters often check.
4. Verify each offer on the organisation's official website before sending personal documents.
5. Insist on a contract specifying salary, security, insurance and residence conditions before any travel.
6. Follow on the MoLSA website the adoption of the revised Labour Code and the national employment policy.

Labour indicators for Somalia

Documents to gather for Somalia

• CV in English
• Degrees and training certificates
• Verifiable professional references
• Valid passport
• Signed employment contract
• Insurance certificate provided by the employer if the post requires it

Risks to avoid in Somalia

• Responding to an offer that asks for processing or visa fees: NGOs and UN agencies recruit free of charge.
• Referring to a Somali minimum wage found online, when none is mentioned in the official sources consulted.
• Travelling without a contract or a validated entry procedure, since no work permit scheme is publicly described.
• Presenting the 2014 unemployment figures as current in an application or report without stating their date.
• Sending copies of your passport and degrees to an unidentified recruiter via a messaging app, at the risk of identity theft.

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