To align vocational training with the economic realities of Côte d'Ivoire, the National Agency for Vocational Training (Agefop) presented the findings of the pilot phase of the Skills Needs Assessment Study (EIBC) at the Prime Minister's office on June 18. This represents a major strategic shift to address the mismatch between education and employment.

Breaking with the paradox of jobless growth

Despite robust economic growth averaging 5.6% between 2019 and 2024 , the Ivorian labor market remains marked by profound imbalances: persistent urban unemployment, underemployment affecting 25% of the workforce, and an informal sector that absorbs nearly 90% of workers. For the government, the diagnosis is clear: the current training programs do not meet the real needs of businesses.

To correct this trajectory, Agefop deployed a rigorous scientific methodology. Coordinated by Professor Koutou Claude, technical advisor, the survey employed qualitative and statistical approaches across 1,013 organizations (453 formal businesses and 560 informal units). The research focused on three strategic areas: Yopougon, Sud-Comoé, and the Grand Nord (Poro, Tchologo, Bagoué).

A precise mapping of needs by region

The study reveals that the skills sought vary greatly depending on the region:

1. In Yopougon: High demand for maintenance technicians and truck drivers.
2. In the South-Comoé region: Increased demand in the agri-food industry, hospitality and digital marketing.
3. In the northern regions: Targeted needs for irrigation technicians, logistics and management of informal sales points.

The rise of soft skills: Beyond technical expertise, recruiters now highly value transferable skills. Initiative, adaptability, resilience, and interpersonal skills have become key hiring criteria.

Solid data to guide public policy

Present at the ceremony, Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, President of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (CESEC), welcomed this methodical approach initiated on March 14, 2025, in Grand-Bassam. According to him, the Sud-Comoé region has proven that aligning training with employment is no longer a utopia but a reality based on actual data. He also commended the integration of the Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE) , a key tool for formalizing the skills of those in the informal sector.

The Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Adama Kamara, recalled the philosophy of this reform by quoting Benjamin Franklin: "Investing in knowledge yields the best returns."

“Training without understanding risks mobilizing resources without real impact. Through Agefop, we chose listening before taking action. We needed solid data that spoke the truth,” the minister insisted.

These indicators will make it possible to revise curricula, guide public investments and strengthen links between training centers and the private sector.

Focus / Karitia Coulibaly de Meideros: "A strategic investment for national competitiveness"

In front of an audience of institutional partners, the Director General of Agefop, Karitia Coulibaly de Meideros, elevated this reform to the level of a structural transformation of the link between training, employment and territories.

Placing this initiative within the vision of President Alassane Ouattara, she recalled that vocational training should no longer be seen as a simple sectoral adjustment, but as a "strategic investment in the service of national competitiveness, social inclusion and sustainable prosperity".

According to the director general, the innovation of the Skills Passport lies in its dual approach, both sectoral and territorial. She concluded by calling for a united front between the State, local authorities, the private sector, and funding bodies to transform this technical tool into a genuine national transformation project.