Employment in La Paz

Local Economy

There are a number of multinational corporations in La Paz, including Nissan, Pan American Silver Corporation, Ernst & Young and Citibank, and as the administrative capital of Bolivia, some of La Paz’s labour force are governmental workers. With the large number of universities, there are also a number of academics.

The most important industries for La Paz remain manufacturing and food processing. Food and other materials come from all over Bolivia to be processed and manufactured in La Paz, including tobacco, building materials and textiles.

During the 1980s and 90s, Bolivia was facing a period of high inflation and economic unrest. Around this time, many markets sprung up in the city neighborhoods, and most of these remain today. Local craftspeople sell food, clothes and jewelry and street vendors are common. Tourism is an important element of the economy, also, with several museums, cathedrals, churches and other attractions that are of interest to both Bolivian and international visitors.

Job Hunting in La Paz

There are a number of websites that collate and present job opportunities in La Paz. There are jobs available in childcare, administration and teaching, as well as the large corporations. Some employers post job vacancies directly on their websites, so it is work expats living in La Paz checking those individual sites. A great place to start is through the popular career network, LinkedIn, which also lists available roles in La Paz.

Work Permits for La Paz

To work in La Paz, expats will need to apply for a work permit (permiso de trabajo) after their application for residency has been approved. To obtain residence, expats will need a medical certificate, criminal record certificate, birth certificate, application form and proof of address.

In order to obtain a work permit, expats have to provide an application form, recent photo without glasses, a letter of intent from the company that they will be working for and a bank statement. It is also essential that applicants have their yellow fever vaccination.