The Malagasy government has announced plans to create 19,584 new positions in the civil service in 2027, as outlined in the country's budget bill. This move is intended to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment in Madagascar. The bill has been submitted to the National Assembly for approval. A total of 17,885 positions have been prioritized as of October 21.
Upon closer examination, it appears that not all of these positions are new creations. Approximately 5,290 positions will be used to replace departing employees, including 4,447 retirees and 843 who have resigned, died, or been revoked. This leaves around 14,294 net new positions. The distinction is crucial, as replacement positions do not necessarily translate to new job opportunities for young people entering the workforce.
The majority of the new positions will be in key sectors such as healthcare, education, justice, public security, and defense, which account for 81.51% of the total. Education will have the largest share, with 9,000 positions allocated. However, the demand for jobs far exceeds the available positions, with ministries requesting 39,397 positions but only 17,885 being prioritized.
Not all of the new positions will be open to all young people. Some positions will be allocated to students already in training, while others will require candidates to pass a competitive exam. For example, the police department has attracted 18,242 applicants for 1,000 positions this year, a significant increase from previous years.
Despite the government's efforts, the number of new positions pales in comparison to the scale of youth unemployment in Madagascar. With approximately 420,000 young people entering the workforce each year, even if all 19,584 positions are filled, it would only provide a job for one in 21 young people. If only the net new positions are considered, the ratio drops to one in 29.
The cost of these new positions has not been made public, but estimates suggest it could be around 86 billion ariary per year, assuming a monthly salary of 500,000 ariary. This is a relatively modest amount compared to the total wage bill of 4,852.76 billion ariary in 2026. However, the government has stated its intention to keep the wage bill under control.
The effectiveness of the government's plan remains to be seen, particularly in light of concerns over the status of some positions. For example, 9,000 positions in education have been announced, but it is unclear whether these will be permanent positions or contract jobs. The distinction is crucial, as it affects job security, salary, and retirement benefits.
Key points
- The Malagasy government plans to create 19,584 new civil servant positions in 2027.
- Only around 14,294 of these positions are net new creations, with the rest replacing departing employees.
- The positions will be mainly in healthcare, education, justice, public security, and defense.
