Hire In Congo

Introduction

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the second-largest country in Africa, with almost 70% of its population comprising young people. The job market in the DRC has been unable to absorb the working-class population, resulting in a high level of unemployment and underemployment. According to the International Labor Organization, it is reported that 80% of the working-class population in the DRC is unemployed.

The DRC has over 80 million hectares of land and a large agricultural and mining industry. However, the country is also one of the poorest in the world; according to the World Bank, over 73% of Congolese citizens live on less than USD 1.90 a day.

Skuad can assist you in scaling up your company and expanding to the DRC. To hire in the DRC, talk to Skuad experts.

Overview of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Population: 92.156 million

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): USD 55.09 billion (2020)

Economic Overview 

Growth in the DRC has reduced from pre-COVID levels of 4.4% to 0.8% in 2020. Moreover, China’s recovery from the pandemic has also brought back demand in the mining sector in the DRC. As a result, the mining sector progressed by 6.9% in 2020. As per the African Development Bank Group, the economic outlook for the DRC is favorable, and the GDP in 2021 is expected to grow by 3.3%.

Market Size

The market size of the DRC is not large enough to employ all its working-class population. According to the Ministry of Labor, the rate of underemployment is over 50%, and the rate of unemployment among youth (15 to 24 years) is over 35%. Therefore, there is a gap in the opportunities available to skilled workers in the Congolese market.

Major Industries in the Democratic Republic of Congo

• The DRC is the largest producer of cobalt in the world. Besides cobalt, it is also rich in other natural resources, including copper, tungsten, silver, diamond, gold, tin, manganese, and cadmium. The DRC’s mineral reserves are estimated to be worth USD 24.5 trillion.
• The DRC is also the world’s second-largest producer of diamonds.
• The DRC has several unexplored hydrocarbon reserves, estimated to yield around 1.6 billion barrels of oil and 90 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
• The DRC has the second-largest rainforest in the world; therefore, it has a lot of fertile lands. The agriculture sector employs over 70% of the population. Crops such as cocoa, coffee, cotton, tea, palm oil, rubber, sugarcane, and peanuts are widely grown.
• The DRC has a large fishing industry. The total fish production is estimated to be more than 240,000 metric tonnes annually.

Internet Speed

The DRC has an average internet speed of 9.06 Mbps. The average download speed is 7.80 Mbps, and the upload speed is 4.05 Mbps.

To know more about hiring remote employees in the DRC, book a demo with Skuad now.

Talent in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Top Hiring Sectors in the DRC

Though a large portion of the working-class population is employed in unskilled work, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and the informal sector, increased urbanization is creating a demand for a skilled workforce.

The top sectors that employ skilled workers in the DRC are,

• Oil and gas
• Information technology
• Retail services
• Marketing and public relations
• Mining
• Transport and logistics
• Travel and tourism
• Banking and financial services
• Pharmaceuticals and healthcare 

Jobs with Most Demand in the DRC

• Surgeons/healthcare workers
• Lawyers
• Judges
• Pilots
• Bank managers
• Chief financial officers
• Academicians/professors
• Marketing heads
• Sales heads

Top Skills: City-wise and Occupation-wise

The Democratic Republic of Congo has some cities where the highest percentage of urbanization has occurred, and the best talent is present. People often migrate to these cities from rural areas in search of opportunities. Because of a large and growing middle-class population, these cities are now home to people with diverse talent. They are also the leading economic hubs where large firms have their offices. 

Kinshasa is the political and economic capital of the DRC, with 5.5 million residents. Due to its location and importance, most foreign multinational companies have their offices here. Most corporate houses of the DRC are headquartered in Kinshasa. The main job opportunities in Kinshasa are related to,

• Management
• Sales
• Banking
• Food processing
• Construction services
• Hospitality
• Tourism
• Healthcare
• Finance
• Administration
• Information technology

Kananga is another major city in the DRC that has various industries, such as,

• Agriculture
• Diamond production
• Oil production

Matadi is the main port city of the DRC. The prominent sectors in Matadi are,

• Import/export
• Fishing industry
• Transportation

Lubumbashi is the second-largest city in the DRC. It is one of the leading mining centers and has large mineral reserves. The prominent sectors in Lubumbashi are,

• Mining
• Manufacture of soaps and cigarettes
• Flour mills
• Breweries
• Railways

Bukavu is one of the most densely populated cities and has a large agricultural industry. The main sectors of employment in Bukavu are,

• Production of coffee, tea, and tobacco
• Gold mining
• Tourism
• Academicians/teachers
• Airports and transportation

The principal talent pools of the DRC are concentrated in these cities. Since the DRC is still a developing country, the majority of skilled labor is concentrated in urban areas such as Kinshasa. However, because of its large youth population, it has great potential. After the pandemic, many on-field jobs have become remote working positions in 2021. The DRC has a large population that can cater to such remote working opportunities at low costs. 

Remote workers/freelancers from the DRC provide the following services.

• Financial modeling and accounting
• English to French translation
• System and network engineers
• Web and android developer
• Audio/video editing

When there’s so much talent on offer, it becomes tricky to hire the right set of people for your team. Skuad can help you find, hire, and manage excellent local talent and make expansion in the Democratic Republic of Congo a hassle-free task.

Hiring Cost in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Cost of Living in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The cost of living in the DRC is lower in rural areas than in urban areas; it varies based on your location in the country. The following table gives a breakdown of costs incurred while living in the DRC.

Breakdown of Average Cost of Living in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Cost of Renting in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The average cost of renting in the DRC is between USD 250 and 300 in single-bedroom apartments. However, multiple bedroom apartments have significantly higher costs and may vary anywhere from USD 1000 and 1400.

Cost of Living in Cities

In the DRC, there’s a direct correlation between a city’s population and its cost of living. Cities with higher populations have higher costs of living. These cities are usually more urbanized and have better infrastructure and facilities, such as Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.

The following table gives a breakdown of the costs of living in the most populated cities of the DRC. The cities are ranked according to their population.

Skuad experts can help you handle global talent seamlessly, whether it concerns vetting, recruiting, hiring, or onboarding employees. Get in touch with us to learn more!

Salary Structure for Various Roles in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The hiring cost varies from industry to industry. Jobs requiring specialized skills cost more than other clerical jobs which do not require specialization. The following table details the average salaries in various fields in the DRC:

Learn more about the various salary structures in the Democratic Republic of Congo by talking to Skuad experts.

Employment Laws in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The employment laws of the DRC are employee-friendly. Foreign companies can easily expand and set up units in the DRC; however, the laws mandate a minimum number of Congolese citizens who must be employed in any foreign firm.

• The laws in the DRC do not differentiate between blue-collar and white-collar workers.
• The maximum working period is 45 hours per week. Any hours worked beyond this limit are considered overtime.
• There is a minimum wage in the DRC, but it varies from region to region.
• Foreign workers in a company cannot make up more than 15% of its workforce.
• Unions can be set up, but the process is complicated.
• The employment laws of the DRC are mainly covered by its Labor Code.
• This must be read along with its Constitution, Penal Code, and other relevant statutes.

Skuad’s EOR solutions for the Democratic Republic of Congo can help expand your business while adhering to the tax legislation, labor laws, and contracts.

How Can Skuad Help You in Hiring in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Hiring in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a multi-faceted task requiring in-depth knowledge of the laws, trends, hiring costs, and city-wise living costs city-wise. Skuad comes onboard as a one-stop solution, handling every minute aspect of recruitment. It gives you the freedom and time to focus on your project and expansion plans without any hiring and payroll-related stresses. Connect with Skuad experts to know more.