SangoServices
Cameroon Informal Employment Barometer — Real Q3 2026 Data
The informal economy accounts for nearly 90% of employment in Cameroon according to the National Institute of Statistics, yet there is almost no public data on the rates actually charged by local service workers. This barometer fills that gap.
Methodology: the figures below are measured directly on the SangoServices platform as of July 18, 2026, from 600 active worker profiles (excluding test accounts) who listed their trades and, for most, their minimum daily rate. These are rates asked by workers, before negotiation.
Who are local service workers in Cameroon in 2026?
The typical profile measured on the platform:
- 600 active workers, including 314 in Douala (52%) and 85 in Yaoundé (14%) — the rest spread across Buea, Bafoussam, Limbe and a dozen other cities.
- 60% women among profiles that specified their gender.
- Average age 25 — local service work is first and foremost an entry point for young people.
- 116 new signups in the first 18 days of July 2026, growing steadily since March with zero paid advertising.
Most offered trades: cleaning (198 workers), childcare (129), manual labor (119), cooking (108), delivery (106) and errands (105).
Asked daily rates by trade (FCFA, July 2026)
The median daily rate is 5,000 FCFA for almost every local trade — the market's reference price. Averages, pulled up by experienced profiles, break down as follows:
| Trade | Profiles | Average asked rate | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home cooking | 79 | 10,400 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Driver | 15 | 10,300 FCFA | 7,000 FCFA |
| Event staff | 40 | 9,700 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Manual labor | 90 | 9,300 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Laundry / ironing | 38 | 8,300 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Home helper | 61 | 8,200 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Cleaning | 142 | 7,900 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Home tutoring | 56 | 7,500 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Delivery | 77 | 7,400 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Moving | 52 | 7,200 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Childcare | 92 | 7,100 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Errands | 80 | 6,300 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Repair | 26 | 5,900 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Security | 11 | 5,500 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Elderly care | 19 | 5,300 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
| Gardening | 21 | 4,900 FCFA | 5,000 FCFA |
Reading: cooking and driving are the highest-valued trades; gardening and elderly care remain the cheapest. The gap between average and median shows that a minority of experienced profiles ask well above the base rate.
What these numbers mean for employers
Three practical takeaways:
- 5,000 FCFA/day is the starting point of any negotiation for a one-off job in Douala or Yaoundé. Below 3,000 FCFA, you'll get few serious candidates.
- Experience costs 40 to 100% more — and can be verified: prefer profiles with a verified badge and completed jobs over the lowest rate.
- Regular commitments lower the daily rate: workers value stability. A monthly arrangement negotiates 30-40% below the equivalent in one-off days.
You can browse profiles by trade and neighborhood and contact workers directly on WhatsApp — free, no commission.
What these numbers mean for workers
If you offer your services: a clear rate and a complete profile (photo, pitch, experience) puts you ahead of incomplete profiles in search results. Platform data shows complete, recently active profiles receive the bulk of employer views.
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About this barometer
This barometer is published by SangoServices, a Cameroonian platform connecting household employers with local service workers. Data is measured on the platform and updated quarterly. Next edition: October 2026. Journalists and researchers can contact us for detailed extracts: contact page.
Recommended citation: "SangoServices Informal Employment Barometer, Cameroon, Q3 2026 — sangoservices.com".
