Overview of Tunisia

Tunisia's political landscape can be seen as republican democracy. The People's Chamber holds legislative powers, and the President is the head of the state. There have been minor tensions politically due to the Arab Spring; however, Tunisia has remained politically stable in recent years, giving much space to development.

Tunisia is well connected with the United Nations, OIC, Arab League and African Union. Tunisia enjoys a fruitful relationship with its European counterparts. Aid, funds, and investments have seen a significant rise in recent years.

Total Population: 12,564,689 people

GDP: US $176.07 billion (2024 est.)

Economic Overview

Tunisia's economy is a mixed planned and a market economy. Tunisia's economy is heavily reliant on exports such as petroleum and phosphates. The manufacturing sector also enjoys a significant population and contribution to the economy. Agriculture and related products, especially forestry and fishing, have also been heavily invested in uplifting the grass-root level in Tunisia. Tunisia is home to various world-class tourist spots; hence, the tourism sector is a promising revenue sector.

Tunisia's agriculture sector will comprise 12.73% of the population according to the World Bank in 2020. 33.42 % of the population is involved in the industry sector, and 52.75% of the population is actively engaged in the developing service sector.

Market Size

Reforms in the '80s after the debt crisis shifted Tunisia's economy to a market-oriented economy. Prices were liberalized, and new structural changes were incorporated, such as reduced tariffs, reform models etc. Major exports in Tunisia include crude oil, food products like olive oil, dates, electronics, and electric components. Tunisia's economic freedom score was 56.6 in 2021. Since the Arab Spring and pandemic crisis, Tunisia is showing speedy recovery with every passing day. Tunisia's recovery plan includes bolstering foreign investment, improving the export sector and increasing revenue by developing the tourism sector. In 2018 exports increased to 19% as compared to 2017.

A brief glimpse of the industries in Tunisia

• Tunisia's economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for 16% of GDP and 12% of its workforce. Agriculture policies in the country are influenced by European Union ties, including how markets are controlled and foods are processed. About 20 percent of farm products were exported, creating a value of around 10 billion dollars. Tunisia is a major producer and exporter of dates, citrus products, and olive oil while importing wheat, sugar, vegetable products, barley, soybeans, and corn
• The oil and refinery industry in Tunisia produces moderate quantities of crude oil and natural gas. The Mediterranean coastline provides rich reserves expected to last for 45 years. Tunisia has a boosting electricity and energy production centre with 5,310 megawatts. 97% of the electricity is generated from fossils. Tunisia also produces automated parts for vehicles and other automobiles. Tourism in Tunisia is rapidly increasing, with almost 9.4 million arrivals in the country. The government has been focusing on expanding the sector further to generate revenue and jobs.
• The service sector in Tunisia includes telecommunications and ICT, professional services, air and maritime transport, logistics, tourism, and health and education services. The development of the service sector is a direct product of regional development in infrastructure, education, and foreign investment.

Cost of Living

The cost of living In Tunisia, on average, is around 3,960 DT (US $1419) without rent for a family of four. For a single person, the monthly costs without rent can be around 1116 DT (US $399).

Tunisia is 40-60% cheaper than the United States.

Cost of Renting

Tunisia has many emerging cities developing with every passing day due to economic investment and political stability. With capital flowing inwards and the government using the funds efficiently, cities are developing as tourist hot spots and top professional hubs for employment that make a living in Tunisia promising.

• Tunis: The capital city and the largest city with a population of 638,000. The metropolitan area of Tunis is referred to as Grand Tunis and is the center for advanced growth.
• Sousse: It lies south of Tunis and has a population of 271,428. It is a port city with active trading centers.
• Kairouan: It is an inland desert in the northern region. Historically, it has been a trading hub.

The cost of living in these cities per person are

Top sectors hiring in Tunisia in 2024 are

Top Skills in Tunisia

The Tunisian service sector has expanded rapidly because of foreign investment, foreign aid, and private and public establishments that generate jobs in a democratic and liberal environment. Professionals in banking, finance, ICT jobs, software engineering, tourism, and marketing are in high demand. IT, Education, Engineers, Software, and IT professionals and Marketing, Communication, and Marketing specialists are top job applicants visible from the Tunisian service sector. Top skills required in Tunisia are:

• Graphic Designer
• Mobile app developer
• Software engineers
• IT management
• Full-stack developer
• Management executive
• Accounting and finance analyst
• Accounting and finance analyst

Hiring Costs in Tunisia

The hiring cost has a crucial impact on the operations of the companies in Tunisia. Some of the most important factors that affect hiring costs in Tunisia are

• Training and onboarding expenses
• Time required for the process
• Opportunity costs
• Accommodation and travel expenses

Salary Structure for various professionals (per month)

Mentioned below is the average salary for various professionals employed in Tunisia

Employment laws in Tunisia

The Tunisian Labour Code lays the ground for all employment-related procedures. The contracts can be oral or written with date, time and place specified and all conditions laid forward in front of the employee by the employer with absolute transparency. A minimum working hours per week 40-48 depending upon the contact. A labour inspector issues the permission for overtime and keeps check on the overtime hours. The overtime cannot extend beyond 20-60 hours per week, depending upon the overall labour agreement. Guidelines for sick leaves, paid maternity leaves, vacation days and public holidays are provided under the law. Healthcare is accessible via social security funds.

How Can Skuad Help You with Hiring in Tunisia?

Conducting recruitment in Tunisia is a prolonged process that must be completed as per government laws. To ensure optimal utilization of your resources, you need to partner with experts in the industry. Skuad has a team of highly experienced consultants to take care of all your recruitment processes. Connect with Skuad Experts to know more.