Namibia
+507%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2018)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Gambia
Updated Data years: 2018, 2025 How we use data
Older data (2018) The latest official figure is from 2018. It may not reflect today's labour market.
Quick answer
In Gambia, employees with tertiary education earned a median of GMD 4,250 a month in 2018 (PPP$ 285) — +54% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 5.9%, against 5.5% for all adults aged 25 and over (2025).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +54%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2018)
- GMD 4,250median monthly pay with tertiary education (2018)
- 5.9%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 5.5%, 2025)
- 19.3%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2025)
Do graduates earn more in Gambia?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | GMD 2,750 | 185 | 0% |
| Basic education | GMD 2,750 | 185 | 0% |
| Intermediate education | GMD 2,750 | 185 | 0% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | GMD 4,250 | 285 | +54% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | GMD 4,250 | 285 | +54% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | GMD 6,250 | 419 | +126% |
| All levels | GMD 2,750 | 185 | — |
The degree premium ranks 60 of 128 countries with data. That is below the Sub-Saharan Africa median of +151%.
Which occupations pay the most in Gambia?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2018, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | GMD 9,172 | 615 | +232% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | GMD 4,250 | 285 | +54% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | GMD 4,250 | 285 | +54% |
| Clerical support workers | GMD 4,250 | 285 | +54% |
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | GMD 4,250 | 285 | +54% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | GMD 2,750 | 185 | 0% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | GMD 2,750 | 185 | 0% |
| Craft and related trades workers | GMD 2,750 | 185 | 0% |
| Elementary occupations | GMD 2,750 | 185 | 0% |
| All occupations | GMD 2,750 | 185 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Gambia?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | 3.7% | 9.7% |
| Basic education | 5.7% | 9.1% |
| Intermediate education | 8.7% | 18.2% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 5.9% | 19.3% |
| All levels | 5.5% | 12.6% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 84 lowest of 130 countries with data. The Sub-Saharan Africa median is 8.3%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Gambia
Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.
Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad
Country context
- Population
- 2.8M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $3,706 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 13.5% (2024)
Questions about graduate jobs in Gambia
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Gambia?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Gambia with tertiary education earned a median of GMD 4,250 a month in 2018, compared with GMD 2,750 for all employees — +54%. The degree premium ranks 60 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Gambia?
In 2025, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Gambia was 5.9%, compared with 5.5% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 19.3%.
Which jobs pay the most in Gambia?
The best-paid occupation group in Gambia in 2018 was “Managers”, with median monthly earnings of GMD 9,172 (PPP$ 615). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of GMD 4,250.
Compare with other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
-
-
Botswana
+300%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Lesotho
+186%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2024) -
Guinea-Bissau
+117%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2022) -
Equatorial Guinea
+77%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2023) -
Liberia
+77%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2017)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2018
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2018
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2025
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Gambia: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/gambia/ (accessed September 26, 2026)
Notes from the data source
- Break in series: Methodology revised
- The source reports a break in the series, so compare with earlier years carefully.