Publications on informal economy

  1. International Labour Review, Vol. 154 (2015), No. 3

    Out of the shadows: Classifying economies by the extent and nature of employment in the informal economy

    24 November 2015

    Given the prevalence of informality, this article proposes a typology for classifying countries by the extent and nature of employment in the informal economy, rather than by the composition of their formal economies. The author analyses ILO data on employment in the informal economy in 36 developing countries, and shows that there is a significant correlation between cross-national variations in the degree and intensity of informalization and cross-national variations in social and economic indicators such as levels of GNP per capita, corruption, poverty, taxation and social contributions. The article concludes by discussing implications for theory and policy.

  2. Key Indicators of the Labour Market 2015 KILM

    8. Employment in the informal economy

    16 November 2015

    The KILM 8 indicator is a measure of employment in the informal economy as a percentage of total non-agricultural employment. There are wide variations in definitions and methodology of data collection related to the informal economy. Some countries now provide data according to the 2003 guidelines concerning a statistical definition of informal employment. The KILM 9th edition contains national estimates on informal employment.

  3. G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting

    Informality and the quality of employment in G20 countries

    09 September 2014

    ILO Report prepared for the G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting held in Melbourne, Australia, 10-11 September 2014.

  4. Publication

    2011 Labour Overview. Latin America and the Caribbean.

    25 April 2012

    For Latin America and the Caribbean, growth and employment ended with a positive balance in 2011. We are now at the end of a year characterized by intense uncertainty about the global economy. There is growing concern about the negative repercussions that a new recession could have on the economies and unemployment rates of our region.

  5. Publication

    2008 Labour Overview. Latin America and the Caribbean

    01 July 2009

    This edition provides evidence of the effects of an unprecedented international crisis that has cast a shadow over the global economy and is reflected in the employment situation in the region. Employment will be a challenge in 2009. As ILO Director-General, Juan Somavia stated, "The ILO's message is realistic, not alarmist" with respect to this situation.