Algiers job scene is weird but kinda working for me
so i just moved to algiers and i'm still trying to figure out how the hell anyone makes a living here. it's not like there's a "big tech hub" or a "startup alley" or anything like that. it's more like... you just kinda figure it out. and that's what makes it interesting.
first off, the biggest employers here are mostly government-related. i heard from a barista at this tiny cafe near the grande poste d'alger that Sonatrach (the state oil company) employs thousands, but getting in is like winning the lottery unless you know someone. same with the banks and telecom companies like Djezzy and Ooredoo. they're stable but slow-moving, like a bureaucratic snail on a hot sidewalk.
then there's the universities. the university of algiers has a massive student body, and i've met a bunch of adjunct professors who moonlight as private tutors. apparently, that's a thing here. one guy i met teaches economics at the uni and then does private lessons in the evening to afford rent. rent in algiers is wild. i'm paying about 45,000 DZD a month for a one-bedroom in Hydra, which is considered "middle-class" here. back home, that'd get me a shoebox in a sketchy neighborhood.
but here's the thing: algiers has this underground hustle culture. i met a woman selling handmade leather bags at a weekend market in el biar. she told me she quit her corporate job because it was soul-crushing and now she's making twice as much selling to tourists and expats. another dude i met runs a tiny digital marketing agency out of a coworking space in bab el oued. he's basically the only one in town doing it, so he's killing it.
weather-wise, it's been surprisingly mild for may. breezy, sunny, not too humid. perfect for wandering around and stumbling into random job leads. and if you ever get bored of algiers, you're just a short drive from tipaza (ancient roman ruins!) or a quick flight to constantine (that bridge city is wild).
i asked a local taxi driver what he thought about the job market here. he laughed and said, "if you're not working for the government or in oil, you're either hustling or starving." harsh, but kinda true. still, there's something about the chaos that feels alive. like, you're not just another cog in a machine. you're figuring it out as you go.
random overheard gossip from a cafe in télémly: "did you hear about the new french bakery opening downtown? they're hiring, but only if you speak french fluently. and even then, good luck."
anyway, if you're thinking of moving here for work, just know it's not going to be easy. but if you're the type who thrives in chaos and doesn't mind a little unpredictability, algiers might just surprise you.
*random resources i found useful:*
- TripAdvisor Algiers Forum for expat tips
- Reddit r/Algeria for local gossip and job leads
- Yelp Algiers (surprisingly active for cafes and coworking spots)
- Sonatrach Careers if you're into oil and gas
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