Professions in Mali

Agriculture, livestock keeping, fishing, forestry and agro-processing are major occupational fields, especially in rural and regional economies. Urban areas have strong activity in administration, education, health, trade, transport, hospitality, personal services, information and communications technology, finance and private services. Craft and construction work includes masonry, plumbing, electrical work, welding, sewing, hairdressing and vehicle repair. Mining, energy and telecommunications also provide specialized occupations. A person may enter a trade through an atelier or master craftsperson, workplace learning, an apprenticeship or a qualifying programme. Vocational training centres, known as CFP, may be public or private and offer qualifying, apprenticeship and continuing programmes. The available programme, location, provider and occupation determine duration, admission conditions, fees, tools, transport and examination costs. FAFPA can provide technical or financial support for some programmes, depending on the programme and access conditions. The National Employment Agency, ANPE, provides job information, guidance, matching, support for self-employment and reintegration services, but its services do not guarantee a job. APEJ supports activities such as internships, apprenticeships, retraining, entrepreneurship and project financing. A 2026 APEJ call targeted people aged 15 to 40 and accepted qualifications from CAP through doctorate, with nationwide availability required for that call. Its professional training internship lasts 12 months, cannot be extended and does not create an employment contract. Common qualifications include CAP, BT, BTS or DUT at about Bac+2, Licence at Bac+3 and Master at Bac+4. The required qualification and duration depend on the occupation and programme; no single national standard covers every profession. University or technical study, an internship, a competitive examination, professional registration or an approval may also be required. Foreign qualifications may need national equivalence before they can support access to a regulated profession. Public-sector professions generally use a competitive examination and an official vacancy notice. The general public-service rules provide for a probationary stage of at least 18 months. A 2025 budget recruitment reference recorded 43,104 candidates for 824 positions, with 674 admitted and 150 positions unfilled, showing that this access pathway can be highly selective. Private and contractual work falls under Mali's Labour Code, which covers contracts, pay, working time, night work, rest, leave, health and safety, dispute resolution and trade-union rights. Public officials, judges and the armed forces fall outside that Code's scope and follow separate rules. Informal work often offers more variable income, hours, protection, recognition and access to finance than formal employment. Professional duties also arise from competence limits, safety rules, ethical requirements and, in some fields, registration or approval. Health professions may require a recognized diploma or title, authorization and compliance with professional-order rules; unauthorized practice can lead to criminal penalties. Architecture requires a state- or CAMES-recognized qualification, at least five years of study after the baccalaureate, a 24-month paid internship and registration with the professional order, with possible state approval. Accounting can require registration with its professional order, an oath and professional secrecy. These requirements differ from the general entry pathways for trades and should not be assumed for every occupation. Career paths can move from apprenticeship to qualification, a trade or self-employment and later an atelier or company. Another pathway runs from a CFP to an internship or job placement and then to salaried or independent work. Technical diplomas can lead to technician or supervisory roles, while university qualifications can support professional, management or public-service careers. Continuing training, retraining and recognition of foreign qualifications can change a person's options over time. A 2021 assessment reported 321 accredited CFP, of which 194 were functional, and found that 86.5% of learners were in private CFP; these figures are historical and should not be treated as current national totals.