Cotonou - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Local work would be very hard to find unless you are in the development sector. - Feb 2020
At the moment, the embassy has EFM jobs unfilled. The embassy is fairly small and so EFM jobs are not unlimited. Outside opportunities fairly limited to American school and NGOs. - Aug 2018
You need to be able to speak French, in general. - Jan 2017
No. - Oct 2015
Extremely limited - you should not/not go to Benin without a job in-hand. - Aug 2014
On the local economy, no. However, there are some jobs for family members at the embassy, and a few family members have been able to work at international schools or nonprofits. There might be opportunities if you're flexible and patient, but I wouldn't count on it. - May 2013
I think there are opportunities, but the pay is not great, and fluent or semi-fluent French would likely be a requirement. - Mar 2013
Mostly no, and certainly not without French. The U.S. makes an effort to find a job for all the family members who want to work. - Dec 2011
