Traoré Ends Experience Requirement for First-Time Job Seekers
President Ibrahim Traoré has announced a sweeping policy reform abolishing the requirement for prior professional experience for newly graduated college and university students seeking employment, in a move aimed at expanding opportunities for young people entering Burkina Faso’s workforce. The directive eliminates previous experience requirements in public sector recruitment, state-backed projects and public procurement bidding, removing what the government describes as a major obstacle preventing qualified graduates from securing their first jobs.
The decision is expected to reshape how public institutions recruit workers while creating new opportunities for recently established businesses, youth-led enterprises and graduate entrepreneurs to compete for government contracts. Speaking on the rationale behind the reform, President Traoré criticized what he described as a contradiction within employment systems that demand years of professional experience from graduates who have never been given the opportunity to work.
He argued that many senior public officials, including ministers, are appointed to leadership positions without prior experience in those exact roles, insisting that the same level of confidence should be extended to young graduates beginning their careers. According to the President, employment systems should focus on developing talent rather than excluding capable young people because they lack workplace exposure. He maintained that innovation thrives in countries where young people are trusted with responsibilities early in their careers instead of being restricted by rigid experience requirements.
The reform also introduces significant changes to Burkina Faso’s public procurement system. Previously, companies bidding for government contracts were required to demonstrate several years of experience executing similar projects. That condition has now been abolished, allowing newly registered companies, youth cooperatives, engineering startups and other emerging enterprises to compete for public contracts on equal terms. Government officials believe the measure will stimulate entrepreneurship among young professionals, encourage business formation and create a more competitive environment for public procurement by broadening participation beyond long-established firms.
The policy further shifts responsibility for practical workplace training from graduates to employers. Under the new framework, public institutions and private companies executing government contracts are expected to provide structured on-the-job training and professional integration instead of filtering applicants solely on the basis of previous work experience and resume. The initiative complements Burkina Faso’s recently adopted General Directory of Trades for Professional Training, which seeks to align higher education more closely with national development priorities.
As part of the broader education reform agenda, universities are expected to place greater emphasis on practical innovation and real-world problem-solving rather than predominantly theoretical academic research. Students will be encouraged to undertake graduation projects that deliver tangible solutions in sectors such as agriculture, mining, infrastructure and digital technology, with those projects serving as evidence of practical competence upon graduation. The government believes the combined reforms will help bridge the gap between education and employment, improve graduate employability and accelerate youth participation in national development by ensuring that lack of previous work experience is no longer a barrier to entering the labour market.
Source: Captain Ibrahim Traoré
Author Joyce Owusu
