Demand for contractors surges in Egypt

A growth in business activity has led to an increase in demand for contract professionals in Egypt, according to figures from international contractor management firm, 6CATS International.

The firm’s data revealed a 73% increase in freelance professionals working in the country between January and May of this year. Of this number, there is an equal split between local professionals and European nationals.

This surge in demand comes at a time when the Egyptian economy is noting a boom in activity. In last month’s Global Growth Projections report, released by The Centre for International Development (CID) at Harvard University, the country was ranked as the third fastest growth economy in the world.

Michelle Reilly, CEO of 6CATS International, commented on these statistics: “There’s certainly been a growth in business activity in Egypt that is leading to a significant increase in demand for contract professionals to plug talent gaps. What we’re seeing is that this positivity is being reflected across multiple areas, ranging from pharma and technical engineering to solar energy and offshore oil and gas.

“For contractors, and the agencies that place them overseas, Egypt is certainly likely to be a destination of choice in the near future. However, employment and tax compliance in this location can be complex, with all non-nationals required to apply for a work visa when entering the country for a job. These can take around 50 days to obtain and the individual seeking entry will need to provide a range of supporting documents, including a copy of an experience certificate that has been authenticated by the Egyptian consulate abroad.

“In order to ensure all parties are compliant with local legislation, partnering with a specialist international contractor management company is certainly advisable.”