Unemployment in Burkina Faso

ENES 2024 reports unemployment of 1.5% in rural areas and 7.5% in other cities. Women recorded 4.8%, compared with 2.9% for men. A World Bank report gives 3.5% rather than 4.0% in a different presentation; the discrepancy results from different series or definitions and does not justify false precision. Unemployment is not the same as economic inactivity or underemployment. Many people work despite limited working hours, insecure income, or seasonal employment. Agriculture accounts for 58.5% of employment, 61.1% are self-employed, and 22.0% are contributing family workers. People looking for work can register with the job-seeker registration card (Carte de demandeur d'emploi, CDE), also called the ANPE card (Carte ANPE). The CDE is a registration for job search and access to placement services, but not an application for an automatic cash benefit. For issuance, a CNIB, a recent passport photo, and, if available, a diploma, internship certificates, or work certificates are required. Jobseekers without income pay 500 FCFA, while employed people seeking another job pay 1,000 FCFA; annual renewal costs 250 FCFA. The online form and tracking use the CNIB number and date of birth. Registration should be renewed annually, as should information on diplomas, job title, and experience. The CDE can provide access to ANPE job vacancies, internships, counselling sessions, aptitude tests, support for a business plan for self-employment, application preparation, and advice on career change. In January 2026, the Council of Ministers (Conseil des ministres) decided to merge ANPE and ONEF into ABPE. The mandate and practical implementation of the new agency were not yet fully clear as of September 5, 2026; the ANPE portal was still accessible. Before registering, it should therefore be checked which office and portal are currently responsible at the relevant location. For Burkina Faso, no general state unemployment insurance or income-replacing unemployment benefit has currently been documented. CNSS provides benefits for families, workplace accidents and occupational diseases, pensions, and social assistance, but no separate unemployment branch. Programs such as RSU, PAMPV, and Naong Sa Ya target poverty, particular vulnerability, or economic shocks and do not create an automatic entitlement after job loss. Access and scope depend on the program, place of residence, and target-group assessment. For a formal termination of employment, the Labour Code (Code du travail) promulgated on June 12, 2026, and the applicable implementing texts form the current legal anchor. Documented requirements include a written reason for the termination and an employment certificate (certificat de travail). In cases of economically motivated redundancies, public bodies may be involved in support or reintegration. The labour inspectorate and the courts are available for labour-law disputes. Some older provisions must be checked against the current Labour Code. Technical unemployment (chômage technique) means a temporary complete or partial interruption of work or a reduction in working hours and is not the same as a final termination of employment. Under the available technical rules, employee representatives are consulted and the labour inspectorate is informed. For a complete interruption, remuneration is at least 30% of the average earnings of the last three months; for a partial interruption, it is at least 50% of the reference amount, in each case according to the applicable calculation. The duration is no more than three months, with a possible extension of a further three months. Employees remain available to the employer; refusal may result in loss of remuneration, and other employment generally ends payment, except for work at half time. Because of changes to the Labour Code concerning force majeure, the currently applicable implementing texts should be checked. Returning to work may involve ABPE or ANPE, private employment agencies, direct applications to companies, seasonal or informal work, self-employment, or support from the household or community. These paths differ in legal security, income stability, and access requirements. In rural areas, access depends more heavily on agriculture, informal activities, and seasonal opportunities; unemployment measured in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso is higher. Conflict- and displacement-affected areas may also depend on remote or shock-related social-protection offers. This summary of the administrative and legal situation reflects the researched status as of September 5, 2026.