You Can Find A Job In Panama, But It WIll Take Effort
Finding a job in Panama, especially at good pay, can be a challenge.
I think the best option is to create your own job in Panama.
But that option does not appeal to everyone.
Keep it in mind though, in case your job search does not result in your dream job.
5 Ways To Find A Job In Panama
If you want a real job, one that you don’t create for yourself, your best bet is to:
- Work your current job remotely
- Transfer to your company’s branch in Panama (if one exists)
- Get a job in a big multinational or NGO in Panama
- Find a job at a Panamanian company
- Find a good online job (e.g., teaching english)
Network
Don’t forget to tell everyone about your search for a job in Panama.
Especially if you get a just-for-now job, keep networking after you move to Panama. You will probably hear about many open positions through word-of-mouth.
Work Remotely
This is the easiest way. Just do the job your doing, but on the beach.
If you are willing to shell out the cost of semi-regular plane trips to be in the office in person, it makes it much more likely.
Given the lower cost of living in Panama, you may end up making more money even with the plane tickets.
Why not ask?
I know people who do this. I even know people who do this for a business they own “back home”.
Just ask, the worst that can happen is they say, no.
If you really want it, then address all the reasons for their no. Keep showing them their reasons are wrong (if you can) and they just might say yes.
Transfer To Panama
Does your company have an office in Panama?
- Look for internal job postings that offer relocation to Panama.
- Convince your bosses why they should send you to the Panama office.
They may finally send you just to shut you up.
Get Hired At A Big Multinational or NGO
Yes, you can work in Panama for an international company at a western salary.
There are more than 100 multinational companies with offices in Panama. Panama is a business hub for the region. Marriott, Dell, Coco-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Kimberly-Clark, Caterpillar, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, General Electric, Citibank and many more have branches in Panama City.
Multi-National Jobs
- Research companies in your country with an office in Panama.
- Find one that fits your skill set
- Convince the company that you have a skill they need, especially that they need in Panama.
It must be a valuable and somewhat unique skill. If someone in Panama is available with somewhat the same skill, they will use that person.
NGO (non-governmental organizations)
You can also work for NGO’s originating in your home country or international organizations.
There are a number of NGO is Panama City’s City of Knowledge neighborhood. (The City of Knowledge is located inside the former U.S. Army Base of Fort Clayton in Panama City.)
In fact, the NGOs there have their own website, which includes job opportunities.
For Current Job Opportunities at NGOs in Panama City, go here.
A Life In Panama City
If you decide to look for a employment with a big company, you are also deciding to live in Panama City. Almost all the large companies offering western salaries are located in Panama City.
Go back to your lifestyle goals, does living in Panama City fit in with those goals?
Panama Companies
Expats work in a wide range of Panama companies: banking, journalism, education, construction management, sales, web design, marketing, and more.
Obviously, you will need to know Spanish somewhat well to pursue this option.
Look for a company with hardly any foreign employes.
Panama restricts its companies from hiring “too many” foreigners. What they mean by too many is more than 10% (sometimes 15%) foreign employees.
If you can find an company with less than 10% foreign staff, they could legally hire you.
Of course, you still need to convince them of that and get a work permit. You can also get “specialty” work permits that last 3-9 months through certain organizations.
Go here to read about work permit options in Panama.
Salary Review
Make sure you are okay with the salary before you try to get the job. Most Panama companies pay well under what the same work would pay in the western world.
On-Line Jobs
One way to make sure you can live where you want, is to get an online job.
There are more and more of those these days.
Go to this post for more information on looking for a job online.
Other Places to Look
Language schools
Language schools sometimes offer work opportunities to foreigners. However, they don’t pay that well and it is hard to find a full-time job. But it could be a great temporary job.
Then you can look for more lucrative job once you are in Panama.
Tourist Hotels and Tour Companies
Like language schools, both tourist hotels and tour companies need to hire English speakers.
You are more likely to be hire if you can other, especially unique, skills they need.
Recruitment Agencies
There are some private recruitment agencies. But they don’t usually pay well and they tend to offer short-term work. Two agencies to try are Adecco or Manpower .
Classified Sections of Panamanian newspapers
- Prensa
- Laestrella
- Panamaamerica
- Elsiglo
- Encuentra24
Online Job Listing Sites
- Learn4good.com
- Tecoloco.com.pa
- Computrabajo.com.pa
Think About Your Lifestyle
It is important to think about your ideal lifestyle, before you start working.
Otherwise, you could find yourself in another job you hate. One that keeps you from enjoying the lifestyle you can down to Panama to enjoy.
Check out this create your lifestyle & make money post.
Can I buy afarme in panama and live in it
Hi Michel,
Are you asking about buying and living in a farm or an aframe?
Whichever it is, the answer is yes, you can.
Licensed Journeyman plumber and gas fitter looking to migrate and work in Panama. Any positions available. Will get anu visa required.
Hi Charles,
Your best bet is to go to areas with a concentration of expats. Expats will pay you more. Getting a work permit will be your biggest problem. Maybe you could get a job with a Panama plumbing company. I would check what the wage scale is before getting too far down the road though. Make sure it is worth your while.
As a pharmacist here in Canada I would like to be able to work in Panama as a pharmacist
no. You cannot work in the medical field as a foreigner in Panama. The only exception is if you marry a Panamanian and get a work permit.
Hello, I have the Friendly Nations Visa. I am wondering about any resources you would recommend regarding how I can use my LLC. I am beginning my own business online. I am wondering if the LLC I’ve obtained can be used for this business. Perhaps a good question for an accountant…
Hi Mimi,
Online businesses are international in nature, so unless you are being paid directly to a bank account in Panama, the work you do should not be regulated by the Panamanian government.
I hope this helps.
Can a non-citizen work as a marine engineer or is that included in the list of engineering jobs reserved for Panamanian citizens?
I am not an expert on that law, but unless you are working for an international company, I would
say no. But I would talk with a lawyer to be sure about that.
I’d like to work as a caregiver in a public hospital or nursing home and take my 9 year old daughter for school and my truck driver husband. Is it possible for me as a jamaican
Hi Claudine, sorry to say, but employment in the medical field is restricted to Panamanians.
Hi i am researching a job as an English teacher. Any suggestion?
Thank you!
Teaching english online is usually the best option.
I wrote about it in this post https://livinginpanama.com/make-money/teach-english-online/
I hope you find something that works for you.
Hi I will be moving to Panama late this summer, I am getting married to a Panamanian woman and looking for steady work. I have 34 years experience in construction, a journeyman cabinet maker with many years in electrical, plumbing and project managing residential construction sites.
This is very new to me and an exciting experience to come would love to hear from anyone who might help
If you are moving to an area with a number of expats, I am sure you can find construction work. However, you must have a work permit. This means you should not get a pensionado visa, you cannot get a work permit with that visa. Yes, because you have married a Panamanian you are technically eligible for a work permit, but that method is not always as straightforward as it seems. I suggest you discuss it with a good lawyer.
Hi everyone! Good day! I’m Janice Fuentes, Recruitment Specialist of Five Star Retail Brands. I would like to inform you that we are now looking for a Customer Service and Operations Representative who is willing to work in our office based in Paitilla, Panama City. If you’re interested, please let me know. You can reach me through my email address: [email protected]. Thank you!