Hire in the Maldives
Just like many other countries in the region, Maldives's economy is dominated by the service sector. The tourism industry plays a big role in running the country's economy, employing over 25,000 people accounting for 28% of the GDP, and is also responsible for 60% of the country's foreign exchange earnings. The Maldives is a sparsely populated nation with only 0.5 million inhabitants, and the unemployment rate is around 6.17%. There is a very slight increase in the unemployment rate, but the government has already taken steps to tackle the situation.
The country is divided into many islands and is 99% covered by the sea. The beautiful sandy beaches, lagoon areas, flora, and fauna present in its rawest form have given the island the name 'tropical paradise.' Many people travel each year to the archipelago of the Maldives, which has generated plenty of job opportunities in the island's hospitality, healthcare, engineering, and several other sectors. Apart from this, the salaries offered here are higher than those offered on any rural island.
Overview of Maldives
Since the past few decades, the country has witnessed infrastructural development, increased life expectancy, and poverty reduction because of the development of the tourism sector. Less than 3.6% of people live below the poverty line, which is quite remarkable. The service sector makes up 73% of the GDP, followed by the industrial sector that contributes 24% to the economy and the agricultural sector contributes around 4% to the GDP.
Total population of Maldives: 517,887
GDP: per Capita in Maldives is expected to reach 11477.00 USD
Economy of Maldives
The pandemic severely hit the island, and just like many other countries, the economy was affected too. But after the restrictions on international travel were released, surprisingly, more people started traveling to the island for vacations. The GDP growth rate of the country is around 5.2%, with a slight decrease due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic. The foreigner employment rate is 99.6% and that of the inhabitants there is 96.2%, which is quite remarkable.
Market Size
Tourism is the largest market here, followed by the fishing industry, agriculture, and manufacturing industry. The taxes on the tourism industry has led to the building of mind-blowing infrastructure in the archipelago of the islands. Besides, the inflation rate is also very low, and the GDP is estimated to grow more than 10% in the years to come. The overall revenue is expected to grow even more in the years to come.
Brief glimpses of the industries
- The tourism industry here employs around 25,000 thousand people in the country, and the industry also supports the employees with low wages. This industry brings in about $600 million every year and adds 28% to the GDP.
- Since the sea surrounds 99% of the island, fishing is also a major occupation here. Tuna, dolphin, groupers, rainbow runner, and squirrelfish are all found here. Apart from being an occupation that provides income to many people, it is also used as a recreational activity. Around 22,000 or more people are involved in the fishing industry. Tones of fish are exported from the island.
- The industrial sector here contributes 7% to the country's GDP. The industrial activities here are also related to fishing. Pole and line fishing involves catching fishes like tuna and mackerel. Industrial fishing here is supported by the Japanese company, which aids in the processing and canning of fresh tuna. This has led to exporting of tonnes of tuna fishes, generating heavy revenue.
Cost of living in the Maldives
Even though renting is considerably cheap in the Maldives, a person's location to settle also matters a lot. The average rent may vary between US $520 – US $975 across the island.
- Cocoa island is the most expensive island in the whole of Maldives. With luxury resorts and elite visiting for vacation, the living cost is even higher here.
- On the contrary, Maafushi island is the cheapest and most affordable place to go to.
Mentioned below are the few places in the archipelago of Maldives, and the cost of living anywhere in these places is between $700 to $3000 per month.
Top Sectors that are hiring in the Maldives in 2025
Category
|
Area of Expense
|
Cost in USD (monthly)
|
Utilities
|
Heating, Gas, Electricity, Cooling, Water, Garbage, and Internet (60 Mbps or more)
|
US $130 – US $162
|
Apartment rents
|
Monthly rent 1-bedroom apartment in City Centre
|
US $520 – US $975
|
Transportation Cost
|
A gas, one-way ticket, monthly pass of public transport
|
US $111 – US $239
|
Food and Beverage
|
Fruit, Vegetable, Meat, Dairy, Drinks, and Poultry, Food at Restaurants
|
US $700 – US $767
|
Average Salary
|
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
|
US $1235.77 – US $5518.91
|
Sr No.
|
Places in Maldives
|
1
|
Addu City
|
2
|
Male - Capital
|
3
|
Felidhoo
|
4
|
Malu
|
5
|
Gan
|
6
|
Hinnavaru
|
7
|
Funadhoo
|
8
|
Maroshi
|
9
|
Meedho
|
10
|
Ungoofaaru
|
Sr No.
|
Sectors that are hiring
|
1
|
Geotechnical engineer
|
2
|
Staff Nurse
|
3
|
Civil Head Project
|
4
|
Finance Manager
|
5
|
Driver
|
6
|
Lecturers and teachers
|
7
|
Site engineer
|
8
|
Biomedical engineer
|
9
|
Art and Designer
|
10
|
Teachers for hospitality and tourism
|
11
|
Health care officer
|
12
|
Technicians
|
Top skills in the Maldives
Tourism is such a wide sector in the Maldives that most of the skills required are related to this industry. Apart from this, the country also requires health care staff such as nurses, teachers, and technicians to handle the tasks assigned in the fishery industry. The healthcare system is growing well here and the education system, and thus, there is a dire need for skilled and capable people to perform tasks in these industries.
Skills and areas which have witnessed a recent growth rate in the Maldives are:
Sr no.
|
Skills
|
1
|
Technicians and engineers
|
2
|
Academics and teachers
|
3
|
Hospitality and tourism
|
4
|
Communication
|
5
|
Fishery
|
Top skills city-wise occupation-wise in the Maldives
Every city, town, and village have their offerings. Depending on the place an individual decides to live in, salary and cost will vary accordingly.
- Addu city: The second-largest city in the archipelago of Maldives is Addu city. The average monthly salary noted in this city is around the US $2000. This city is known for its rich history and has a population of around 32,062.
- Male: The most populous city here in the Maldives is Male, with a population of around 227,486. Doors previously surrounded the city. The average monthly salary here is between US $2500.
Hiring cost in the Maldives
The hiring cost in the Maldives varies with many factors, such as the nature of the job, place hiring, and area of posting.
- Salary and bonus payable
- Interview process cost
- Training and orientation cost
Salary structure for various roles in the Maldives
The table below highlights the average salaries that are offered to employees in the Maldives for various roles: -
Roles
|
Monthly Salary in (MVR)
|
Monthly Salary in (USD)
|
Administration
|
Rf 17,266
|
$ 1,122
|
Arts and Culture
|
Rf 18,138
|
$ 1,179
|
Agriculture and food industry
|
Rf 16,074
|
$ 1,045
|
Car industry
|
Rf 20,056
|
$ 1,304
|
Electrical and power engineering
|
Rf 21,911
|
$ 1,424
|
Information and technology
|
Rf 30,896
|
$ 2,008
|
Laws and legislation
|
Rf 20,763
|
$ 1,350
|
Pharmaceuticals
|
Rf 23,719
|
$ 1,542
|
Telecommunications
|
Rf 25,073
|
$ 1,630
|
Top Management
|
Rf 49,491
|
$ 3,217
|
Transport, Haulage and logistics
|
Rf 20,571
|
$ 1,337
|
Water management, forestry and environment
|
Rf 20,183
|
$1,312
|
Wood processing industry
|
Rf 17,302
|
$ 1,125
|
Textiles and apparels
|
Rf 13,124
|
$ 853
|
Quality management
|
Rf 23,977
|
$ 1,559
|
Employment law in the Maldives
The Maldives have their employment laws to be followed by the employee and the people hiring these employees. Some of these laws are mentioned here:
- Prohibition of employment of minors
- Obtaining guardian's approval
- Hours of work
- Penalty
- Transfer of employment agreement
- Disciplinary measures imposed on the employee
- Prohibition of dismissal without reasonable cause
How Can Skuad Help You with Hiring in the Maldives?
To conduct seamless hiring processes in the Maldives, you need to ensure complete compliance with government rules and guidelines. This process requires you to invest considerable amounts of resources and time. With Skuad’s unified employment platform, all your hiring requirements are taken care of. Connect with Skuad to know more.