Economic/Labor market overview:
- The number of unemployed in Tunisia has increased to 492,000 in 2010, of which 70% are under 30 years.
- Increase in unemployment in Tunisia disproportionally affects women (11% male versus 19% female), this is particularly evident in terms of higher education graduates (16% male versus 33% females).
- 13% of the unemployed have been without jobs for 2+ years, for whom it is significantly more difficult to find a job.
- Tunisian students are not guided towards specialties with highest employment opportunities.
Some insights on sectors of growth:
Off-shoring:
- By 2016 there is expected to be a need for ~20,000-25,000 trained individuals that are “off-shoring-ready” ~13,000 trained individuals in ITO ~10,000 trained individuals in BPO
- Most post-secondary graduates do not have the soft skills (such as consumer relations, team work, and problem solving), language proficiency or specific technical skills necessary to be productive in this sector.
Electrical, Electricity, and Mechanical Industries (EEMI):
- Gap of ~40,000-55,000 individuals that are “EEMI-ready“, including gaps in following specialties: Production engineers, Mechanical engineers (e.g., Computer-Assisted Design), Welding, and Machining
- Existing vocational training centers and post-secondary institutions do not provide the necessary practical experience and knowledge, soft skills, and language skills to produce the needed profiles.
Construction and Real Estate:
- Gap of ~ 85,000-120,000 individuals: Skilled technicians (e.g., diggers, plumbers), Office grade A specialists (e.g., connectivity, isolation, security), Project/construction management skills, Safety management skills, and Public procurement management specialists.
