How to find a job in Somalia: the real job boards

Who this is for

This page is for anyone looking for paid work in Somalia: school and university leavers, people changing jobs, and Somalis abroad who want to work at home. It lists the places where jobs are really advertised and explains each one. We do not host job adverts ourselves.

The job market in brief

Jobs are scarce. About 500,000 young people enter the labour market each year, against about 80,000 new jobs (MENA Startup Digest, August 2026). In the 2022 national household survey, youth unemployment was 30.1 percent, and 35.6 percent in towns (Somali National Bureau of Statistics, SIHBS 2022). Many jobs are filled through people one knows, so it helps to use every channel below. See Jobs, work and poverty for the full numbers.

Where jobs are advertised

1. The National Job Portal (government). The federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs launched a national job portal in 2025 at jobportal.gov.so. Public bodies, private companies and international organisations can post vacancies for free, and job seekers can search them and find training and volunteer openings (SONNA, Somali National News Agency; SONNA, launch report, March 2025).

2. ReliefWeb Jobs (aid, UN and NGO work). ReliefWeb, run by the UN's humanitarian office OCHA, lists aid and development jobs by country. Its Somalia page carries vacancies from UN agencies and NGOs in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Baidoa, Kismayo and other towns (ReliefWeb, Somalia jobs). Aid groups also post on their own websites (Africarrieres, finding jobs in Somalia).

3. Somali Jobs (private sector and NGOs). A Somali job board founded in December 2011, with offices listed in Hargeisa and Mogadishu, at somalijobs.com, with a phone app (Somali Jobs; Apple App Store).

4. UN careers. UN jobs open to Somali nationals are posted on the UN's own careers sites and gathered by trackers such as UN Vacancies (UN Vacancies, open to Somali nationals).

5. LinkedIn, Facebook and company pages. Banks, telecom companies and larger firms often post on LinkedIn and their own pages (Africarrieres).

Government jobs

Federal civil service jobs are filled through ministries and the National Civil Service Commission. In 2026 the Ministry of Labour reviewed a study on barriers to hiring on merit in the civil service (Dawan Africa). Each federal member state and Somaliland has its own civil service. Check the ministry's official website for any government post.

How to spot a fake vacancy

• Never pay to apply or to be hired. A request for a "processing fee" is a warning sign.

• Check the advert on the employer's own website or on one of the sites above.

• Be careful with adverts that only appear on social media, with a phone number and no official email.

• Do not send copies of your ID or passport until you have checked that the employer is real.

Skills that help

Employers in aid, banking and telecoms often ask for English, computer skills and a university degree. The Ministry of Labour runs short employability courses for young people (SONNA). Three innovation hubs, iRise Hub and SIMAD iLab in Mogadishu and HarHub in Hargeisa, train and support people starting their own businesses (MENA Startup Digest).

Common problems

• No reply after applying. Many employers only contact those shortlisted. Keep applying.
• Jobs filled before they are advertised. Build a network: volunteer, join professional groups and keep in touch with former teachers and colleagues.
• Security checks. UN and aid jobs may ask for references and police clearance. Prepare these early.