The Tunisian job market in 2026

A marked gap between men and women

The INS measures unemployment at 12.3% among men and 20.7% among women in the first quarter of 2026. Women make up only 30.2% of the 3,626,300 people in employment, a proportion that reflects their low participation in the labour market.

Women graduates: one in three without a job

Among higher education graduates, unemployment reaches 24.2%, but it climbs to 32% for women compared with 14.2% for men. The choice of field of study and the experience gained while studying weigh heavily at the hiring stage.

Services employ more than half the workforce

In the first quarter of 2026, services account for 52.9% of employment, manufacturing for 19%, agriculture and fishing for 15.7% and non-manufacturing industries for 12.3%. These proportions are a useful guide when choosing a specialisation.

The hourly SMIG and its two regimes

From June 2025 to February 2026, the SMIG minimum wage was 2.586 dinars an hour under the 48-hour regime and 2.540 dinars under the 40-hour regime. Check which one applies to your contract, as the monthly calculation depends directly on it.

The amounts shown for 2026

The INS annual table shows 2.713 dinars an hour for 48 hours and 2.667 dinars for 40 hours in 2026. The date of application of these new rates has not been confirmed. The INS also publishes the agricultural SMAG.

Tanitjobs, a very active general portal

Tanitjobs describes itself as the employment portal for Tunisia and displayed 3,309 vacancies on 9 October 2026, with adverts posted the same day. The adverts cover a wide range of profiles, for example industrial engineers.

ReKrute and AfricaWork for experienced profiles

ReKrute targets executives in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. AfricaWork, a recruitment and executive search firm, also publishes Tunisian vacancies. These two channels suit experienced candidates aiming for positions of responsibility.

Engineers and digital occupations

Engineering posts feature among the active adverts on Tunisian platforms, and bilingual technical profiles are valued by companies that work with foreign partners. The skills sought across the continent are set out on the page devoted to IT and telecoms.

Comparing with Algeria and Libya

Mobile candidates often compare conditions on either side of the border. The pages devoted to Algeria and to Libya show markets with less recent statistics and very different employment structures.

Reading the INS quarterly notes

The National Institute of Statistics publishes its employment and unemployment indicators every quarter. Consulting them helps you spot growing sectors and support an application with official data rather than impressions.

Foreign candidates and the diaspora

The work permit procedure for foreign nationals has not been verified in our sources. Tunisians in the diaspora, on the other hand, can make the most of their international experience with exporting companies and groups operating in several countries.

Widening the search across the continent

If the local market remains tight in your field, explore the verified platforms presented in our selection of job sites in Africa, which also cover development institutions and executive posts.

Tunisian bodies and websites

• Institut national de la statistique (INS): Publishes quarterly employment and unemployment indicators as well as the SMIG and SMAG tables.
• Tanitjobs: Tunisian portal for job and training vacancies, with more than 3,300 active adverts in October 2026.
• ReKrute: Executive recruitment site covering Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and several African countries.
• AfricaWork Tunisie: Recruitment and executive search firm that publishes vacancies for posts based in Tunisia.
• ANETI: Tunisian public employment service; services and website not verified in our sources.

Action plan for applying in Tunisia

1. Check the new, dated Tanitjobs vacancies every day, targeting your occupation and your governorate.
2. Write a one to two-page CV in French, with an English version for exporting companies.
3. Target ReKrute or AfricaWork if you have several years of management experience.
4. Check the post's hours regime, 40 or 48 hours, to confirm compliance with the SMIG.
5. Prepare certified copies of your diplomas and internship certificates.
6. Follow up politely with the recruiter a week after applying if the advert gives no deadline.

Official data on employment in Tunisia

Application documents in Tunisia

• CV in French and, if needed, in English
• Certified true copies of diplomas
• Internship or employment certificates
• National identity card or passport
• Bulletin No. 3 (criminal record) for certain employers
• Work authorisation for foreign candidates

Missteps to avoid in Tunisia

• Paying fees to a so-called agency that promises a contract in Europe or the Gulf: reputable recruiters are paid by the employer.
• Confusing the 40-hour and 48-hour regimes and accepting an hourly rate below the applicable SMIG.
• Applying to every vacancy with the same CV, without reflecting the specific skills requested in the advert.
• Neglecting internships during your studies, when almost one higher education graduate in four is unemployed.
• Starting work without a written contract, which complicates any recourse in the event of a pay dispute.

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