Find Out How to Get a Job and Work in Yangon

Employment in Yangon

From English language teaching jobs in one of the many international or local language schools, to getting involved in the city’s booming manufacturing and construction industries, you’re sure to make friends both among other expats and with the locals. The cost of living is also very low compared to Western economies, so you can be quite comfortable here.

Local Economy

The GDP per capita in Yangon was about 1,105 USD in 2014. The manufacturing industry is one of the main employers, with a ring of industrial districts surrounding the city.

Other industries are construction and tourism — with a rise in the number of visitors coming to the city on business or pleasure, this is in a state of growth, with new hotels going up to cope with the demand. Teaching jobs for expatriates come up often due to the expanding amount of schools with an international or language focus.

Job Hunting in Yangon

There are lots of avenues for looking for work in Yangon. You can, for example, try looking through local English newspapers such as New Light of Myanmar, The Voice Daily, Golden Fresh Land, Myanmar Freedom Daily, and the Burma Times.

Alternatively, you can perform searches through online portals such as Work.com.mm, MyanmarJobsDB, and CareerJet. For English teachers, you can investigate sites such as ESL Employment, Total ESL, ESL café, and Tesall.

Income Taxation in Yangon

Income tax is levied on all people earning an income in Myanmar. Residents are taxed on income derived from inside Myanmar as well as abroad. If you stay in the country for at least 183 days of a tax year (April 1 to March 30), you’re treated as a resident in regard to taxes. Non-resident foreigners only have to pay tax on income derived within Myanmar. Different rates are applicable depending on your salary, from 1% for those on less than 500,000 MMK to 20% for those on an income of 20,000,000 MMK or more.

There is a capital gains tax of 10% of any proceeds received from the sale, transfer, or exchange of assets. For non-resident foreigners, this rate goes up to 40%. There is also a Commercial Tax that roughly takes the place of VAT, imposed on goods at various rates. There are three categories, with tax rates varying from 5% all the way up to 100%. The responsible agency for taxation in Myanmar is the Internal Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance.