Employment study: A strong desire for intra-African mobility among candidates in Africa
Paris, October 22th, 2020 — Fed Africa, a multi-sectoral recruitment agency dedicated to Top and Middle Management functions on the African continent, present in Paris and Abidjan, publishes its first study on professional mobility. This survey was carried out among 761 employed candidates or actively seeking for a position between February and April 2020[1]. The study questioned both expatriation candidates (69% of the panel) and those who are already expatriated (31% of the panel). What motivates or has motivated them to leave? How did they find their job? What is their need for support?
97% of candidates ready to move abroad
Among the local candidates or those from the diaspora, the vast majority (97%) indicates being ready to change country for a professional opportunity. Very attractive on a resume and requested by more and more companies, an international experience is a career milestone which seems to be increasingly standardized.
For almost two third of the respondents (64%), “the remuneration” is the primary reason for considering international mobility. It is followed by :
“suitability with a professional project”: 51%
“the interest of the missions”: 50%
“the benefits offered by the company”: 46%
“Talent’s mobility in Africa actively contributes to the dynamism of the continent. The transcontinental mobility of candidates remains extremely strong and the desire of candidates outside of the African continent who wish to pursue their careers there continues to grow. Africa is and remains attractive.” Deffa KA, Fed Africa Manager.
“Ivory Coast, dynamic and changing, continues to attract talent both for entrepreneurial projects (with increasingly innovative ideas) and for positions in multinationals and pan-African companies. The diaspora is a particularly indispensable factor for the country’s growth. » – Maymouna Mauvois, Fed Africa CI Manager.
What motivated expatriates to take the plunge?
The reasons why they passed the milestone are fairly similar to those of expatriation candidates, except for the remuneration. At the top of their list of criteria is “the job assignments’ interest” for more than one candidate in two (56%), followed by :
“suitability with a professional project” (48%) ;
the remuneration only comes in third place (35%).
We also learn that a third of expatriates (33%) found a position by co-option and 29% by a recruitment agency.
Accompanying expatriates is essential
When asked about their wish to be accompanied in the event of an expatriation, the vast majority of departing candidates (96%) answered positively. However, only 39% of expatriates said they had been accompanied. There is also a discrepancy between the reasons for accompaniment desired by those who want to change country and the experience of those who have already left:
Among the latter, it was primarily for the search for their accommodation that they received assistance (62%). This criterion only came in third place in the wishes of expatriation candidates (43% cited it).
they also received help for the moving process (58%); only 25% of those who want to move to another country mentioned this.
56% received help with administrative formalities relating to the professional sphere (obtaining a work visa, etc.). This is the first criterion requested by expatriation candidates (71%), who secondly want to be assisted in their search for a job (62%).
