STRENGTHEN2

Analysis of the construction sector and related employment in Cameroon

This report presents an analysis of the construction sector in Cameroon, examining its contribution to GDP and employment, the extent of informality, and the opportunities to expand decent job creation through Employment-Intensive Investment approaches.

The construction sector is one of the main drivers of Cameroon’s economy, contributing over 6 per cent to GDP and 7 per cent to permanent jobs. Yet employment remains largely informal, with more than 95 per cent of workers outside the formal system, and women representing only 15 per cent of the workforce.

This study, produced under the EU–ILO STRENGTHEN2 project, provides the first comprehensive analysis of the construction sector and its value chain in Cameroon. It highlights opportunities to boost decent job creation through labour-based technologies, better enforcement of wage and labour standards, improved training systems, and greater use of local materials and enterprises in public procurement.

The report also identifies significant potential for expanding formal employment and productivity by strengthening regulations on apprenticeships, ensuring timely payments to SMEs, and scaling up Employment-Intensive Investment (EIIP) approaches. By addressing these challenges, Cameroon’s construction sector could multiply formal job creation and play a transformative role in achieving the targets of the National Development Strategy 2020–2030.