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Mali launched new digital employment platforms during the 2026 International Recruitment Fair (SIR) to improve job matching and increase access to formal employment opportunities.
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Formal salaried employment accounted for only 11.6% of total employment in Mali in 2024, highlighting the dominance of the informal sector.
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The public sector generated 40,566 jobs in 2025, or 59% of total job creation, while private-sector hiring declined amid economic and security uncertainty.
The Malian government strengthened its employment agenda by supporting the sixth edition of the International Recruitment Fair (SIR), which took place in Bamako on May 31 and June 1. The event brought together companies, job seekers, and policymakers under the theme: “Protecting and Creating Jobs in Times of Crisis: Disruptive Solutions for a Resilient Mali.”
The theme reflects the reality of a country facing a political and security crisis that continues to weigh on investment. Since its launch, employment agency Emploi et Moi says it has helped more than 2,500 people secure jobs. Nevertheless, access to formal employment remains a major challenge for thousands of Malians.
Digital Tools Aim to Expand Access to Job Opportunities
The flagship innovation of SIR 2026 was the launch of the PLIO platform. The tool allows users to view job offers and submit applications online.
At the same time, organizers relaunched the “Premier Mai” platform, which serves as a showcase for professional opportunities. The initiatives aim to improve visibility in a fragmented labor market. Organizers also hosted panels over two days focusing on job creation and job preservation.
“The 2026 edition of SIR marks a major evolution. It establishes the institutionalization of SIR through the recognition of May 1 as the National Opportunities Day,” said Drissa Guindo, Secretary General of the Ministry of National Entrepreneurship, Employment and Vocational Training.
The development marks a significant turning point. SIR is moving beyond its original status as a private initiative and is becoming a permanent and structured employment mechanism.
Authorities view the annual gathering of employers and job seekers as a practical response to unemployment. The initiative seeks to address an information gap that affects all stakeholders in the labor market.
Labor Market Struggles With Informality and Skills Gaps
The initiative also addresses a deeper structural challenge. Mali recorded nearly 7 million employed people in 2024, according to the National Employment and Training Observatory (ONEF). However, only 643,407 workers held salaried jobs, representing 11.6% of total employment.
The informal sector absorbed the majority of the workforce, often under precarious conditions. The National Statistics Institute (INSTAT) reported an official unemployment rate of 3.5% in 2024. However, the institute itself cautioned against interpreting that figure as a complete reflection of labor market realities. INSTAT said the main challenge lies in improving job quality and expanding the formal sector.
Women continue to face greater disparities in employment outcomes. The 2024 Labor Market Indicators Bulletin reported a female unemployment rate of 3.2%, compared with 1.2% for men. At the same time, ONEF recorded only 28 vocational trainees per 100,000 inhabitants. Among those trainees, 47% enrolled in tailoring and dressmaking programs. The concentration highlights a persistent mismatch between training supply and labor market demand.
Public Sector Drives Job Creation
The integration of digital solutions into employment services comes as Mali continues to record modest gains in job creation.
ONEF reported 64,311 net jobs created in 2024 and 65,503 in 2025. Nevertheless, the country’s economic base remains fragile. The private sector created 28,732 jobs in 2025, down from 32,292 in 2024. The decline reflects business caution amid economic and security uncertainty.
Meanwhile, the public sector emerged as the primary source of employment growth. According to ONEF, the sector created 40,566 jobs in 2025, accounting for 59% of total job creation.
This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou
Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum