Publications on informal economy

  1. ILO Working paper 89

    What has been driving work-to-work transitions in the emerging world? – A comparative study of Indonesia and South Africa

    23 March 2023

    This paper examines the shape, prominence and drivers of work-to-work transitions in South Africa and Indonesia – two middle-income countries with similar development levels yet different labour market characteristics.

  2. Report

    Women and men in the informal economy: A statistical update

    07 March 2023

    This report provides a snapshot of the situation in 2019 and trends in selected countries since 2020. It does not intend to provide an in-depth analysis of trends and factors of informality. Instead, the primary objective of this publication is to provide a concise update, both globally and by region, of data on the extent of informal employment, the categories of workers most exposed to informality and the characteristics of those currently in informal employment and their working conditions compared to their counterparts in formal employment.

  3. Publication

    New data shine light on gender gaps in the labour market

    05 March 2023

  4. ILO Brief

    Intervention Model: For extending social protection to migrant workers in the informal economy

    28 February 2023

  5. Publication

    Labour Overview 2022 for Latin America and the Caribbean [Executive summary]

    07 February 2023

    Latin America and the Caribbean faces a "highly complex and uncertain" labour market in 2023 due to a conjunction of multiple crises that impact labour markets and make it necessary to apply policies to create formal employment. The most urgent labour problem for the region is the quality of employment and the insufficient labour and total income generated by workers and their families.

  6. Executive Summary

    World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023

    16 January 2023

    This ILO flagship report details the impact of economic slowdown on the global labour market.

  7. Report

    World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023

    16 January 2023

    This ILO flagship report details the impact of economic slowdown on the global labour market.

  8. ILO Working paper 86

    Negotiations by workers in the informal economy

    04 January 2023

    This paper provides empirical evidence from Africa, Asia and the Americas on negotiations and collective bargaining by workers in the informal economy.

  9. Publication

    Legislative and Policy Coherence on the Extension of Social Security Coverage in Jordan

    12 December 2022

    The objective of this report is to identify options to strengthen legislative and policy coherence on the extension of social security in Jordan through an in-depth analysis of the national legal and policy frameworks.

  10. ILO-UNEP-IUCN joint report

    Decent Work in Nature-based Solutions 2022

    08 December 2022

    The first report in a biennial global series on work and employment in the emerging nature conservation and restoration economy