These U.S. Embassy contacts believe that the detention without bail of public company officials who are being accused by public-spirited or malevolent people of wrongdoing has caused company officials and those who have replaced them to minimize business risk at all costs, this to the systemic disadvantage of the economy. Labor Algeria's labor force comprises 7.8 million people out of a population of 28.9 million. Its annual growth rate is 2.2 percent. Seventy percent of the population is below 30 years of age. Upper Supervisors Workers Average Mgt.
Some foreign companies operating in Algeria pay a fraction of the monthly wage in hard currency.
About four percent of the labor force has had at least 12 years of schooling. U.S. companies in Algeria have been able to hire trained technical staff. While most speak French, few speak English. There are no restrictions on the number of expatriate supervisory personnel. U.S. firms have had few labor union problems because of the good work conditions and salaries they provide.