Capital
Banjul
Currency
Gambia dalasi (GMD)
Languages
English, Wolof, Sarahole
Payroll Frequency
Monthly or as per the employment contract.
GDP per Capita
$882.47
Employer Tax
26%
Talent Overview
The Gambia is a country in the Western region of Africa named after the Gambia River. The economy of the Gambia is heavily dependent on agriculture. It accounts for 23% of the GDP and employs around 75% of the population. Industries in the Gambia are prevalent, but they are also agriculture-based. The services industry in the Gambia also contributes to the GDP at 19%.
Major economic hubs:
Banjul, Brikama, Bakau
Skills in demand:
Electrical Engineering, IT, Law, Banking, Medicine
Local Universities
The top local universities in the Gambia are as follows:
University of the Gambia
RANKING
Local: 1
World : 9,583
American International University West Africa
RANKING
Local: 2
World : 10,867
Salary Data
Some of the popular jobs and their annual salaries are listed below:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (in GMD) | Average Monthly Salary (in USD) |
| Financial Manager | 30,500 | 491.14 |
| General Manager | 27,100 | 436.39 |
| Business Development Manager | 24,700 | 397.75 |
| Financial Analyst | 19,100 | 307.57 |
| Business Analyst | 19,100 | 307.57 |
| Project Manager | 17,300 | 278.58 |
Talent Sourcing Tips
Top Local Job Boards:
Number of LinkedIn users:
98,480
Top Recruitment Agencies:
CA Global, Seriffo Bari and Company
Employing in The Gambia
Below are the key points an employer must keep in mind while seeking employees in the Gambia.
Employee Contract
Employment contracts in the Gambia can be both oral and written. Written contracts must be drafted in English and should contain all details of the employment such as compensation, benefits, etc. The compensation should be mentioned in the local currency only.
Probation Period
The probationary period for employees in the Gambia can be from 0 – 12 months.
Public and Provincial Holidays
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year | Public Holiday |
| 2 Jan | Day off for New Year | Public Holiday |
| 18 Feb | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
| 7 Apr | Good Friday | Public Holiday |
| 10 Apr | Easter Monday | Public Holiday |
| 17 Apr | Lailat al-Qadr | Public Holiday |
| 22 Apr | Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 1 May | Labour Day | Public Holiday |
| 25 May | Africa Day | Public Holiday |
| 29 Jun | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 22 Jul | Revolution Day | Public Holiday |
| 28 Jul | Ashura (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 15 Aug | Assumption of Mary | Public Holiday |
| 27 Sep | The Prophet’s Birthday (Tentative Date) | Public Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Public Holiday |
Employee Leaves
| Type of Leave | Duration | Mandatory |
| Annual Leave | Dependent on Employment Contract | Dependent on Employment Contract |
| Sick Leave | Dependent on Employment Contract | Dependent on Employment Contract |
| Maternity Leave | 14 weeks | Yes |
Payroll
Payroll Cycle
Employees in the Gambia can be paid monthly.
Minimum Wage
As of 2022, the minimum wage in the Gambia is 50 GMD per day.
Overtime Pay
There is no specific mention of overtime pay in the labor code of the Gambia. It states that overtime employees must be compensated; however, the rate is not specified.
Bonus
13th Month Pay
The Gambia has no legal provision for 13th-month pay.
Employee Benefits
- Maternity Leave
- Social Security
- Paternity Leave
Additional Fringe Benefits an employer can provide
- Accommodation
- Food Vouchers
- Transportation
- Bonuses
- Insurance
Taxes
Employer Payroll Tax:
| Type of Tax | Rate |
| Environmental Tax | 1% |
| Provident Fund | 10% |
| Work Injury | 1% |
Employee Payroll Tax:
| Type of Tax | Rate |
| Provident Fund | 5% |
Employee Income Tax:
| Income (GMD) | Rate |
| 0 – 24,000 | 0% |
| 24,001 – 34,000 | 5% |
| 34,001 – 44,000 | 10% |
| 44,001 – 54,000 | 15% |
| 54,001 – 64,000 | 20% |
| Above 64,000 | 25% |
VAT:
There is no VAT in the Gambia, however, Sales Tax is at the rate of 15%.
Offboarding & Termination
Employment in the Gambia can be terminated after a fixed-term contract has expired. In the case of open-ended contracts, employment can be terminated by the employer or the employee based on mutual discussion. Fixed-term contracts can also be terminated by the employer, without any notice, in cases of severe misconduct by the employee.
Employees on probation and permanent employees both must serve a notice of at least 14 days after terminating the contract.
Severance pay in the Gambia is calculated as one month’s pay for each year of service.
Visa and Immigration
A visa is mandatorily required for foreign nationals seeking jobs in the Gambia. Citizens of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of the West African States) can directly apply for permanent residence in the Gambia under the Type B category visa. Other foreign nationals must apply for a Type C visa and a residency permit.
