Tunisia faces 9.7 billion dinar annual loss due to declining scientific skills

The Arab Institute of Business Leaders (IACE) has issued a warning regarding the progressive erosion of scientific skills in Tunisia. In an analysis titled ‘Scientific Capital, a Lever for Growth’, the organization estimates that this decline could cost the Tunisian economy approximately 9.7 billion dinars annually, representing nearly 6% of the national GDP.

A central paradox identified is the disconnect between educational access and market needs. While higher education access has expanded, the unemployment rate for university graduates rose from 3.8% in 1994 to 24.9% in the third quarter of 2025. The IACE notes that the country is struggling to transform educational investment into practical, mobilizable skills.

The report highlights a significant decline in mathematics students over the last two decades. This trend is particularly concerning as mathematical reasoning is foundational for high-value sectors such as engineering, artificial intelligence, finance, and advanced industry. Furthermore, the World Bank’s Human Capital Index gives Tunisia a score of 0.52, suggesting a child born today may only reach 52% of their potential productive capacity due to the quality of learning.

To address these issues, the IACE recommends treating scientific capital as a strategic intangible infrastructure. They propose three priority actions: establishing a national system to monitor scientific skills, defining a national development trajectory for this capital, and strengthening inter-ministerial governance to align education with economic requirements.