HOW TO FIND A JOB IN ARGENTINA
The population and cultural characteristics of modern Argentina were shaped in large part by the influx of immigrants from Spain and Italy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A century ago the country was considered one of the richest and most promising in the world. However, the subsequent economic crises, the most serious of which occurred in 2001, markedly reduced the development potential of Argentina and, accordingly, the living standards of local residents.
The government is now taking measures to repay foreign debts, liberalize the economy and improve the investment climate. The situation is gradually improving. The country has abundant natural resources, such as zinc, copper, precious metals, coal, oil, fairly well developed agricultural sector, aerospace, textile and automotive industry.
Despite the challenges, many foreigners see Argentina as a comfortable place to immigrate, including the possibility of long-term employment. However, the number of job openings for foreign applicants is very limited. Jobs in Argentina for foreigners in 2024 are available primarily to highly skilled specialists in technical professions.
Below, let's look at the specifics of labor migration, job search options, as well as available jobs and salary levels in Argentina in 2024.
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Labor migration to Argentina
Argentina is the second largest country in South America, with a diverse climate, special traditions and exquisite cuisine, especially wine and meat dishes. According to official data, there are up to 1 million illegal labor migrants in the country. The process of legal employment in Argentina is quite complicated and requires an understanding of the key features of employment in this country.
Competition. Argentina's population in 2024 is about 45.9 million, with a labor force of about 21.4 million, all potential competitors for migrant workers. Even though many Argentines move to work in the U.S. or Canada, gaps in the local labor market are offset by Paraguayans, Bolivians, and Peruvians, who are mostly employed in agriculture and other unskilled occupations.
Language and Qualifications. The official language in Argentina is Spanish. Italian, German, French, and some indigenous languages are widely spoken. In business, particularly among employees of international companies, quite often communication is in English. Foreigners with a good command of Spanish stand a much better chance of finding work in Argentina.
It makes sense to take special intensive courses at Argentine language schools. Most foreign diplomas require confirmation and additional examinations.
How to go to work in Argentina
Finding a job in Argentina means finding a job beforehand and signing a contract. This is actually the main difficulty. After all, Argentine companies prefer to employ locals and not to deal with foreigners. Next, a work visa and a work permit to work in the country are issued. Usually this procedure is done through the Argentine diplomatic office with the help of the prospective employer.
The Argentine Department of Immigration, Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, reviews applications and issues work permits to foreign applicants. The ultimate goal of the migrant worker is to obtain a national identification card - Documento Nacional de Identidad, which is issued after two years of residence in the country on a temporary visa and entitles you to free employment.
Depending on the duration of the work and the terms of the employment contract, there are a number of work visas in Argentina. The most common visas are as follows:
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Visa técnica de trabajo – short-term visa for up to 15 days.
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Residencia temporaria – temporary visa for 6 to 12 months.
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CientÃfico y Personal Especializado – visa for foreign specialists with special skills. Usually issued for one year, renewable.
Read more about work visas to Argentina on the official website of the country's Department of Immigration – migraciones.gov.ar
How to find a job in Argentina. Job Search.
Argentina consists of 23 provinces and one federal metropolitan area, Buenos Aires, which is home to about 2.9 million people and has the largest concentration of jobs for foreigners. As one of the largest cities on the continent, Buenos Aires is considered the business and economic center of the country. Consider cities such as Cordoba, Rosario and Mendoza. It would not be a bad idea to visit Argentina as a tourist.
The best option to find a job in Argentina for foreigners is to work in an international company. In this case, you can count on a decent wage and less painful language barrier. English may be quite enough. In other situations you will almost 100% need a good level of Spanish.
Personal connections and acquaintances are of great importance. The lion's share of jobs in the Argentine labor market are not publicly available. Look for like-minded and experienced migrant workers on forums or social networking sites. Explore Argentine job resources online.
Join a professional social network – linkedin.com
The official website of Argentina's Ministry of Labor – trabajo.gov.ar
Popular Argentine job search sites
zonajobs.com.ar
bumeran.com.ar
computrabajo.com.ar
International job portals in Argentina
ar.indeed.com
opcionempleo.com.ar
Websites of famous Argentine newspapers
La Nación
ClarÃn
If you can't find a job in Argentina on your own, contact an international recruiting agency.
Jobs and wages in Argentina
About 72% of Argentinean workers are employed in the service sector, only 5% work in agriculture, and 23% are employed in industry. Up to 30% of the local population live below the poverty line, so the government tries to provide as many jobs as possible, especially for its own citizens. Unskilled positions, in addition to the Argentines themselves, are taken by labor migrants from neighboring countries, which makes this field very competitive.
The average wage in Argentina in 2024 is 456,813 Argentine pesos per month, the equivalent of $555. The minimum wage as of March 1 is 202,800 pesos, or $230. One of the country's main economic problems is high inflation, which exceeded 40 percent last year. As a result, real income is decreasing and the local currency exchange rate can adjust. On average, qualified foreigners with scarce occupations can expect to earn a salary in Argentina in the region of 1.5-2 thousand dollars or more.
Demanded jobs in Argentina in 2024:
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Specialists in IT and communications, in particular, developers and web designers are needed.
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Skilled engineers, especially in the energy sector (oil sector).
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Some medium-skilled technical workers, such as locksmiths, electricians turners.
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Financiers and bankers.
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Scientists and teachers of English.
Quite often foreigners work in Argentina in construction, as well as in the social sector, that is, caring for the sick and elderly. Some arrange waiters, cleaners, porters and so on, that is, in unskilled positions. To find such work is quite problematic officially, and pay is respectively minimal, up to 500-600 dollars a month.
Doctors, lawyers, economists, translators, and holders of humanitarian professions to find work in Argentina is virtually unrealistic. Diplomas and other certificates that certify the level of qualification need to be confirmed, and even retrained again. But there are exceptions.
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