Overview of Burkina Faso

Tapping into the political scenario governing Burkina Faso, the Sahel country in 2015 bid farewell to the authoritarian rule governed by Blaise Compaore. The transition ended almost a three-decade-long rule and welcomed a democratic process with elections held in November 2015. The new government recognizes the need for transition and development that embraces a new scientific temper and the overall outlook for justice and well-being. Improvements have been seen over the years. National and international collaborations have developed party platforms and monitored parties to make political parties more responsive. Improving the role of civil society organizations and resolving conflict has been the guiding torch for restoring peace and prosperity in the region. As a result of the newly established democratic setup and international agencies, the National Assembly is being given more legislative powers, oversight, and responsibility from the recent election.

Total Population: 23.84 million (2024)

Total GDP: US $22.92 billion (2024 estimate)

Economic Overview

In 2021, Burkina Faso ranked 124th in the Index of Economic Freedom for its economic freedom score of 56.5. Agricultural and livestock farming are the economic foundations for Burkina Faso. A gradual increase in the nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of Burkina Faso was reported. In 2017 GDP was US $12.6 billion, an increase of about 5.9% over 2016. The first half of 2020 saw an annual decline in real GDP of about 5% due to Covid 19 restrictions. In the third quarter, favourable terms of trade and the government's emergency plan implementation were responsible for the turnaround of 8%. An estimated 0.6% growth in real GDP was recorded for the year.

In 2021 and 2022, growth is forecast at 3.1% and 5%, respectively. As the economy recovers from uncertainty, services are expected to improve gradually, gold production is expected to remain high, and the agricultural sector is estimated to be stable.

Market Size

Agriculture is Burkina Faso's most important industry. The data indicate that at least 80% of the population depends on subsistence farming in the country. In 2014, the average income purchasing power parity per capita for Burkina Faso was US $1,900, and the average nominal income was US $790. The revenue is generated through exports such as gold (4th largest producer in Africa), cotton, livestock, Sesame seeds. In the year 2017, the exports reached a high revenue point of US $3.305 billion. Burkina Faso's trade partners are Benin, Togo, Japan, Thailand. Production has been revolutionized with the use of modern technology, and it has become a cash crop since 2004. However, some of the population is employed in the service and industrial sectors, which are equally vital to the economy.

A brief glimpse of the industries

• Around 90% of Burkina Faso's labour force is employed in agriculture. Cotton textiles are the primary export commodity. Rice, peanuts, sesame, millet, and corn are among the other agricultural products. After agriculture, the handicrafts sector is the second major source of income to the population. Agricultural sub-sectors remain the largest (35%), followed by livestock, forestry, and fishing (18%), and trade, transport, and communications (13%).
• In recent years, mining has become a major export industry, especially gold mining. In 2011, the primary and tertiary sectors continued to dominate the economy, each with a share of 38. The government has promoted this sector through several steps. Development of industrial nurseries, industrial growth and competitiveness centers, and incentives for industrial investment are among the measures for development. FDI into the mining sector has risen dramatically. Mineral deposits in the country present a great opportunity for prospective investors. Recently, Burkina Faso has attracted interest for its gold, zinc, manganese, and uranium mines
• Due to the concentration of foreign direct investment in the telecommunications sector, the region has developed both reliable and competitive mobile and internet services. As of 2009, Burkina Faso's financial system represented 30% of the country's GDP and 90% of the total financial system's assets. As foreign aid increases, several sectors for development are emerging to keep pace with modern demands and facilities. These sectors include Real Estate, Information Technology, Mining, Manufacturing, Energy etc.

Cost of Living in Burkina Faso

Overall, the cost of living in a developing country such as Burkina Faso is US $808. On average, it is 1.1 times higher than the world average. Among 197 countries, Burkina Faso ranks 91st by the cost of living and 176th by the quality of life. The cost of living for a family of four persons amounts to US $1977. The table below shows expenditure distribution across various categories.

Cost of living city wise

Burkina Faso has many emerging cities developing with every passing day due to economic investment and political stability. Some of these cities are:

• Ouagadougou is Burkina Faso's capital and has a population of 1,626,951. Textiles and food processing are Ouagadougou's two largest industries. The largest market in West Africa is in Ouagadougou.
• Bobo Dioulasso has a population of 537,728. Bobo-Dioulasso is an important economic, textile, and cultural hub
• Koudougou is a city with popular markets, provincial departments and small industries. It has a population of 160,207.

The table below shows the city-wise cost of living

Cost of Renting

Renting costs are determined by the customer's choice and lifestyle preference. Variations in area and size impact the rent of an apartment along with the city they choose. On average, housing in an expensive area such as city centers can cost around US $281.11 (156,666.67 CFA) for a one-bedroom apartment, while in inexpensive areas, the average rent can add up to US $112.14 (62,500.00 CFA). For a three-bedroom apartment, the rent is estimated at US $5,382.98 (300,000.00 CFA) for areas near the city center and US $ 233.26 (130,000.00 CFA) in the city outskirts.

Top sectors expected to hire

Top Skills in Burkina Faso

Private companies, public institutions, and foreign aid, generating jobs in a democratic and liberal environment, have been crucial to the rapid expansion of Burkina Faso's service sector. The demand for qualified professionals is constantly expanding in banking, finance, software engineering, tourism, and marketing. Online job websites list vacancies and skills required by each industry, such as IT, Education, Engineers, Software, IT professionals, Marketing, Communications, etc.

Major skills and areas which have witnessed a recent growth rate are:

• Software Development
• Flutter Development
• Full Stack developers
• Digital Marketing
• Business Development
• Graphic Designer
• Content Creation

Hiring Costs

An employer's hiring costs include all the expenses incurred from start to finish to hire an employee, such as:

• Onboarding and training
• Interviews and hiring processes
• Opportunity costs
• Time invested

Salary Structure for various professionals

The table below highlights the average salaries that are offered to employees in Burkina Faso according to different sectors:

Employment Laws in Burkina Faso

The Labour Act of 2008 governs the labour and employment laws in Burkina Faso. It gives the authority to the employer to issue direction and regulations regarding work and remuneration. Civil servants, magistrates, the army etc., are excluded from the Labour Act. The labour law sets different wages for agricultural and non-agricultural workers. In 2010 a decree guaranteed minimum wages for different government departments. Wages are also set according to the collective agreement that the rates are not lower than the minimum wage set by the government. Working conditions, pay cycle, social security, associations etc., are all guided by the Labour Act.

How Can Skuad Help You with Hiring in Burkina Faso?

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