Ayari began his career as a department head at the Société Tunisienne de Banque before becoming an assistant professor at Tunis University the following year. He earned an agrégation in economics from the University of Paris and became a professor at Tunis University and at the Faculté de droit et des sciences économiques et de gestion de Tunis, as well as an assistant professor at Aix-Marseille University and the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis.[2] During his career, he earned the title of doctorus honoris causa from Aix-Marseille University and Honorary President of the Association internationale des sociologues de langue française [fr].