Survey Finding Report - lmi.molsw.gov.la force_report 22 june_ENG.pdf · the Lao Statistics Bureau in cooperate with Ministry of Labor and Welfare has conducted the Lao Labor Force

Ministry of Planning and Investment Lao Statistics Bureau

Survey Finding Report

LAO PDR LABOUR FORCE SURVEY 2017

June 2018

LAO PDR

LABOR FORCE SURVEY 2017

(LFS 2017)

Laos Statistics Bureau (LSB)

June 2018

I

Contents

CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................... I

LIST OF TABLE ..................................................................................................................................... III

LIST OF FIGURE.................................................................................................................................... VI

FORWARD ......................................................................................................................................... VII

KEYS FINDING .................................................................................................................................. 1

SUMMARY OF THE LFS 2017 RESULTS ............................................................................................ 3

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................................ 3

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ............................................................................................................................. 3

EMPLOYMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 3

WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS ......................................................................................................... 4

LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION ..................................................................................................................... 4

SOCIAL PROTECTION.............................................................................................................................. 4

MIGRATION ........................................................................................................................................ 4

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 5

BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER II: SAMPLE AND METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 6

SAMPLE DESIGN ................................................................................................................................... 6

QUESTIONNAIRE .................................................................................................................................. 7

TRAINING ........................................................................................................................................... 8

FIELDWORK AND FIELD MONITORING ........................................................................................................ 8

DATA PROCESSING ................................................................................................................................ 8

CHAPTER III: DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS .......................................................................... 10

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION ............................................................................................................... 10

HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................................... 15

AGE STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................................... 30

DEPENDENCY RATIOS ................................................................................................................. 31

EDUCATIONAL PROFILE OF THE POPULATION ................................................................................... 32

CHAPTER IV: ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ............................................................................................... 33

LABOR FORCE ........................................................................................................................... 33

LABOR FORCE BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ................................................................................. 33

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION ...................................................................................................... 35

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ..................................................... 37

POPULATION OUTSIDE THE LABOR FORCE ....................................................................................... 39

CHAPTER V: EMPLOYMENT ........................................................................................................... 41

II

EMPLOYED POPULATION ............................................................................................................ 41

EMPLOYED POPULATION BY EDUCATION ........................................................................................ 44

STATUS IN EMPLOYMENT ............................................................................................................ 45

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY ........................................................................................................ 47

EMPLOYMENT BY OCCUPATION .................................................................................................... 50

INSTITUTIONAL OF EMPLOYMENT ................................................................................................. 52

INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT ........................................................................................................... 54

CHAPTER VI: WAGES AND OTHER WORKING CONDITIONS ......................................................... 58

GROSS MONTHLY INCOME .......................................................................................................... 58

FREQUENCY OF PAYMENT ........................................................................................................... 64

CONTRACT TYPES ...................................................................................................................... 64

HOURS OF WORKS .................................................................................................................... 65

EXCESSIVE HOURS OF WORKS ...................................................................................................... 68

REASON FOR EXCESSIVE HOURS OF WORKS ..................................................................................... 70

CHAPTER VII: LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION .................................................................................... 71

LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION ......................................................................................................... 71

YOUTH LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION................................................................................................ 73

TIME-RELATED UNDEREMPLOYMENT ............................................................................................ 75

POTENTIAL LABOR FORCE ........................................................................................................... 76

CHAPTER VIII: SOCIAL PROTECTION: COVERAGE AND BENEFITS ................................................. 77

TOTAL POPULATION COVERED BY SOCIAL PROTECTION ...................................................................... 77

WORKING AGE POPULATION COVERED BY SOCIAL PROTECTION SCHEMES .............................................. 79

SOCIAL PROTECTION BENEFITS AND CURRENT BENEFICIARIES .............................................................. 81

POPULATION NOT COVERED BY AND NOT BENEFITED FROM SOCIAL PROTECTION .................................... 82

CHAPTER IX. MIGRATION .............................................................................................................. 84

MOVING FROM BIRTH PLACE ....................................................................................................... 84

HOUSEHOLD MEMBER LIVING ABROAD .......................................................................................... 85

ANNEX A: SURVEY ORGANIZATION ............................................................................................... 87

ANNEX B: QUESTIONNAIRE ........................................................................................................... 95

III

List of table

TABLE 1. KEY LABOR MARKET INDICATORS, 2017 ....................................................................................... 2

TABLE 2. KEY LABOR MARKET INDICATORS, 2010 ....................................................................................... 2

TABLE 3. DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLE VILLAGES AND NUMBER OF SURVEYED HOUSEHOLD BY PROVINCES AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ........................................................................................................................ 7

TABLE 4. TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION (0+), BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA, SEX AND

PROVINCES, 2017 (1,000) .......................................................................................................... 10

TABLE 5. TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF WORKING-AGE POPULATION (15+), BY GEOGRAPHIC

AREA, SEX AND PROVINCES, (1,000) .............................................................................................. 11


AREA, SEX, EDUCATION ATTAINED AND PROVINCES, (1,000) ............................................................... 13


AREA, SEX, AND AGE GROUP, (1,000) ............................................................................................ 14

TABLE 8. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF SEX OF HOUSEHOLD HEAD BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND PROVINCE ............ 16

TABLE 9. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER AND PROVINCE................ 17

TABLE 10. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY TYPE OF ELECTRICITY AND PROVINCES ........................ 18

TABLE 11. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY MAIN SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR COOKING .................... 19

TABLE 12. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY TYPE OF TOILET FACILITIES USED BY HOUSEHOLD .......... 20

TABLE 13. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY HOUSEHOLD ASSETS (VEHICLE) ................................ 21

TABLE 14. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY HOUSEHOLD ASSETS (DEVICE) ................................. 22

TABLE 15. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY HOUSEHOLD ASSETS (COMMUNICATION DEVICE) ........ 23

TABLE 16. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY HOUSEHOLD’S INCOME STATUS ............ 24

TABLE 17. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF REASON FALL IN INCOME COMPARE TO LAST YEAR BY PROVINCE,

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ...................................................................................................................... 25

TABLE 18. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY SOURCE/ METHODS USED TO OVERCOME PROBLEM FACED

DUE TO FALL IN INCOME ............................................................................................................... 26

TABLE 19. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD BY STATUS OF LOANING, PROVINCE AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA. ..................................................................................................................... 27

TABLE 20. PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD WITH LOANING BY MAIN REASON FOR LOANING BY PROVINCE AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ...................................................................................................................... 28

TABLE 21. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD WITH LOANING BY SOURCE OF LOANING BY PROVINCE AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ...................................................................................................................... 29

TABLE 22. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TOTAL POPULATION (0+), BY AGE-GROUP, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC

AREA ........................................................................................................................................ 30

TABLE 23. DISTRIBUTION OF DEPENDENCY RATIOS, BY PROVINCES AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ............................... 31

TABLE 24. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF WORKING-AGE POPULATION, BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA, 2017 ............................................................................................................ 32

TABLE 25. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR FORCE BY PROVINCE, GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND SEX ................... 33

TABLE 26. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR FORCE BY EDUCATION ATTAINED, GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND SEX ... 34

TABLE 27. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, BY PROVINCE, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC

AREA ........................................................................................................................................ 37

IV

TABLE 28. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, SEX

AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ............................................................................................................... 38

TABLE 29. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF OUTSIDE LABOR FORCE BY PROVINCE, GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND SEX ....... 39

TABLE 30. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION OUTSIDE THE LABOR FORCE BY REASON, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ...................................................................................................................... 40

TABLE 31. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYED POPULATION, BY AGE-GROUP, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA, (1,000) ........................................................................................................ 42

TABLE 32. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE EMPLOYED POPULATION, BY PROVINCE, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA43

TABLE 33. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION EMPLOYMENT BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA 44

TABLE 34. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYMENT BY STATUS OF EMPLOYMENT, PROVINCE, GEOGRAPHIC AREA

AND SEX ................................................................................................................................... 46

TABLE 35. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYMENT, BY INDUSTRY, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA

(1,000) ................................................................................................................................... 48

TABLE 36. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYMENT, BY OCCUPATIONAL GROUP, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ......................................................................................................... 51

TABLE 37. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION EMPLOYMENT BY INSTITUTIONAL SECTOR, PROVINCES, AND GEOGRAPHIC

AREA ........................................................................................................................................ 53

TABLE 38. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION EMPLOYMENT BY INSTITUTIONAL SECTOR, EDUCATION ATTAINED ............. 54

TABLE 39. INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT RATE, BY PROVINCE, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ..................................... 55

TABLE 40. INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT RATE BY EDUCATION ATTAINED, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ...................... 55

TABLE 41. INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT, BY AGE-GROUP, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ............................. 56

TABLE 42. INFORMAL EMPLOYMENT RATE, BY AGE-GROUP, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA .................................. 57

TABLE 43. NUMBER OF PAID EMPLOYEES BY GROSS MONTHLY INCOME, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ...... 59

TABLE 44. AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT BY PROVINCE, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ............. 60

TABLE 45. AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT BY OCCUPATION, EDUCATION ATTAINED, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA (KIP) .............................................................................................................. 61

TABLE 46. AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (KIP) ..... 62

TABLE 47. AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT BY AGE GROUP, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (KIP) ... 63

TABLE 48. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEE’S DISTRIBUTION BY FREQUENCY OF WAGE/SALARY PAYMENT,

SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ............................................................................................. 64

TABLE 49. CONTRACT TYPE FOR PAID EMPLOYEES, BY, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (PERCENT) .......................... 65

TABLE 50. NUMBER OF PAID EMPLOYEES BY WORKING HOURS PER WEEK, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000).... 66

TABLE 51. AVERAGE HOURS OF EMPLOYED PERSONS WORKED PER WEEK BY OCCUPATION, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC

AREA ........................................................................................................................................ 66

TABLE 52. AVERAGE HOURS OF EMPLOYED PERSONS WORKED PER WEEK BY INDUSTRY, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA67

TABLE 53. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS WITH EXCESSIVE HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK, BY OCCUPATION,

SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA .......................................................................................................... 68

TABLE 54. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS WITH EXCESSIVE HOURS OF WORK PER WEEK, BY INDUSTRY, SEX

AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ............................................................................................................... 69

TABLE 55. PERCENTAGE OF DISTRIBUTION OF REASONS FOR WORKING 48+ HOURS FOR PAID EMPLOYEES, BY SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ...................................................................................................................... 70

TABLE 56. LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION BY SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION (1,000) ........................................ 71

V

TABLE 57. LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION BY SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ........................................................... 72

TABLE 58. DISTRIBUTION LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION RATE BY PROVINCE, REGION, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ..... 72

TABLE 59. DISTRIBUTION LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION RATE BY OCCUPATION AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ................. 73

TABLE 60. YOUTH LABOR UNDERUTILIZATION (15-24) BY, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ....................... 74

TABLE 61. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS IN TIME RELATED UNDEREMPLOYMENT BY PROVINCE, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA ...................................................................................................................... 75

TABLE 62. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS IN TIME RELATED UNDEREMPLOYMENT BY COMPLETE

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND AGE GROUP ............................................................................................. 75

TABLE 63. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF POTENTIAL LABOR FORCE BY PROVINCE, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA .... 76

TABLE 64. TOTAL POPULATION COVERED BY SOCIAL PROTECTION BY PROVINCE, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA ........ 77

TABLE 65. TOTAL POPULATION RECEIVING BENEFITS FROM SOCIAL PROTECTION, BY MAIN SOCIAL PROTECTION

SCHEMES, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ............................................................................... 78

TABLE 66. WORKING AGE POPULATION COVERED BY SOCIAL PROTECTION, BY PROVINCE, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA

(1,000) ................................................................................................................................... 79

TABLE 67. WORKING AGE POPULATION CURRENTLY RECEIVING BENEFITS FROM SOCIAL PROTECTION, BY MAIN SOCIAL

PROTECTION SCHEMES, SEX AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) .............................................................. 80

TABLE 68. WORKING AGE POPULATION RECEIVING SOCIAL PROTECTION BENEFITS, BY PROVINCE, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ......................................................................................................... 81

TABLE 69. TOTAL POPULATION RECEIVING SOCIAL PROTECTION, BY MAIN CATEGORIES OF BENEFITS, SEX AND

GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ......................................................................................................... 82

TABLE 70. TOTAL POPULATION NOT COVERED BY AND NOT BENEFITED FROM SOCIAL PROTECTION, BY PROVINCE, SEX

AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA (1,000) ................................................................................................... 83

TABLE 71. POPULATION MOVED FROM BIRTH PLACE BY SEX AND PROVINCES (1,000) ...................................... 84

TABLE 72. THE REASON FOR THOSE WHO MOVED FROM BIRTH PLACE BY SEX (PERCENT) .................................. 85

TABLE 73. THE REASON FOR HOUSEHOLD MEMBER LIVING ABROAD MORE THAN 6 MONTHS BY SEX, AND SENT

MONEY BACK HOME (1,000) ........................................................................................................ 86

VI

List of figure

FIGURE 1. THE COMPOSITION OF THE WORKING AGE POPULATION (15+) BY LABOR FORCE STATUS ....................... 1

FIGURE 2. COMPONENT OF ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE (LABOR FORCE) AND ECONOMICALLY INACTIVE POPULATION

(OUTSIDE LABOR FORCE) ................................................................................................................ 9

FIGURE 3. AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE .................................................................................................... 15

FIGURE 4. LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE BY SEXT AND AGE GROUP ........................................................ 36

FIGURE 5. PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYED POPULATION BY STATUS IN EMPLOYMENT 2017 AND 2010 .................... 45

FIGURE 6. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION BY EMPLOYMENT BY INSTITUTIONAL SECTOR ......................................... 52

VII

Forward

Base on the statistical law and the National Strategy for sustainable Development of Statistical System 2016-2020 and vision for 2030, Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) throughout the Lao Statistics Bureau in cooperate with Ministry of Labor and Welfare has conducted the Lao Labor Force Survey in 2017. This is a nation-wide household based survey with a sample size of 10,800, covering all 18 provinces. It aims to generate data at provincial level disaggregated by age, sex and geographic area on the size and characteristics of the labor force, employment, unemployment and other labor market characteristics of the population.

Lao Labor Force Survey II provides up-to-date information needed for the selection of data on key social development indicators to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially key inputs for the ongoing Voluntary National Report on SDG, 2018. This will provide a baseline for the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and provincial development plans including the inputs for upcoming Mid-Term Review of the 8th NSEDP, and support the country’s graduation from Least Developed Country by 2020.

This report presents the estimates of household characteristics, demographics, economic

activity, employment, and wages and other working conditions, labour underutilization, social protection and migration.

I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all organizations and individuals who have contributed to making this survey a success, especially the Lao Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare for leading and implementing the entire survey. We would also like to express our special thanks to the Lao Labor Force Survey II Steering Committee for their leadership and guidance of the survey, the Technical Task Force for advising and supporting the survey, and the Secretariat Group for organizing and dealing with day-to-day work.

We acknowledge the great contribution of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for overall technical support throughout the survey.

Special thanks are extended to 126 enumerators and supervisors especially from the Provincial Statistics Centres, Department of Labour and Welfare in each province for being intensively involved in field data collection and monitoring. All Committees at all levels have played a very critical role in the successful achievement of the survey, and its high standard of quality.

Head of Lao Statistics Bureau, Vice Minister

Ministry of Planning and Investment

1

Keys finding

The Labor Force Survey that was implemented in Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 2017 (LFS 2017) adopts the new concept of work, employment and labor underutilization that was adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labor Statisticians (ICLS) in 2013. It provides a new perspective on the labor market of the country. As noted above, the important difference from the previous definition is that those who worked solely or mainly for own final use during the reference period are no longer considered to be in employment but outside the labor force. Around 2 million persons are estimated to be engaged in own-use production worker and neither worked for pay or profit (employed) nor actively searched for work and was available for work (unemployed). Many of the own-use production workers would have likely been counted as being employed according to the old method of estimating employment.

Figure 1. The composition of the working age population (15+) by labor force status

The method of calculating the key labor market indicators, such as the labor force

participation rate and the unemployment rate, remains the same. However, because around

40 per cent of the working age population are counted as being outside the labour force since

they are either not interested in or cannot be part of the labour force due to age, studies and

other socioeconomic reasons or undertake only own-use production work, the estimated

indicators are affected. The labor force participation rate, which is the share of labor force in

working age population, is estimated at 40.8 per cent in 2017 (table 1). The unemployment

rate, which is the proportion of the unemployed in total labor force, is estimated at 9.4 per

cent. These estimates are very different from the estimated indicators in 2010 (table 2),

when the labor force participation rate was estimated to be around 79 per cent and the

unemployment rate around 2 per cent. Such difference stems from the small size of the

defined labor force in 2017.

Working age population:

4,758,031

Labour force:

1,940,230

Employed:

1,757,733

Unemployed:

182,497

Out of labour force:

2,817,801

Own-use production worker

2,455,328

2

The key labor statistics presented in this report provide a new and different perspective on the state of the labor market in Lao People’s Democratic Republic and cannot be compared with the previous estimates. It provides a baseline to monitor the working age population and the labor force, closely in line with the recommendations for monitoring the employment-related indicators for Sustainable Development Goals. Because own-use production workers represent the traditional form of work, it also supports policymakers to monitor structural change and its constraints, as well as make informed decisions on policies to facilitate structural change and economic diversification.

Table 1. Key labor market indicators, 2017

Indicator 2017

Working age population 4,758,031

Labor force 1,940,230

Employment 1,757,733

Labor force participation rate (%) 40.8

Unemployment rate (%) 9.4

Composite rate of labor underutilization (%) 25.8

Youth unemployment rate, aged 15-24 (%) 18.2

Share of wage workers in total employment (%) 32.4

Average gross monthly income, employees (Laotian Kip) 2,481,000

Table 2. Key labor market indicators, 2010

Indicator 2010

Working age population 3,886,618

Labor force 3,079,852

Employment 3,021,212

Labor force participation rate (%) 79.2

Unemployment rate (%) 1.9

3

Summary of the LFS 2017 results

Demographic characteristics

Of the 6.9 million total population, 69 per cent were of working age (15 years and above). The share of working age population in urban area was 75.4 per cent, while in rural areas; this was much lower at 66 per cent due to a larger number of younger cohorts aged less than 15 years old. This results in higher dependency ratio of 62 per cent in rural areas, compared to 43 per cent in urban areas. Among working age population, around two-third have primary education or less, mainly because of large incidence of less educated people in the rural areas.

On the whole, a large majority of households have access to basic services, such as drinking water, electricity, road and durable household goods. Nevertheless, some gaps remain in access to services across provinces and between urban and rural areas. A majority of the households (58 per cent) reported having the same income as the year before. For those who experienced a change in income, almost twice as many households reported an increase in income (311 thousand) rather than a decrease (155 thousand).

Economic activity

The labor force participation rate was 41 per cent. The labor force participation rates were higher in urban areas, for men and for those who are better educated than in rural areas, for women and for those with less education, respectively. Of the remaining 59 per cent of the working age population who were outside the labor force, the reported reasons for staying out of labor force were mainly family-related or for education.

Employment

A total of 1.8 million persons were in employment. Youth accounted for a bigger proportion of employment in the rural areas than in the urban areas. There was some concentration of employment in Vientiane Capital. By status in employment, contributing family workers accounted for the biggest portion (38 per cent), closely followed by employees (32 per cent). More than half a million persons worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by wholesale and retail trade and public administration and defense. The dominance of agriculture-related economic activities is closely reflected in occupational distribution, where skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers constituted the biggest segment of employment. Interestingly, women were more likely to be managers and professionals than men. Men and workers in urban areas were better educated than women and workers in rural areas.

35 per cent of total employment took place in the informal sector while the formal sector accounted for 27 per cent of total employment. When including informal employment outside the informal sector (in the formal sector and in households), the total informal employment rate was 83 per cent. This rate was higher among women and in the rural areas than in the urban areas. The youngest and the older cohorts (aged 60 years and above) were more likely to be affected by informality.

4

Wages and working conditions

Average gross monthly income of employees, including cash and in-kind payments and incomes from secondary jobs, was LAK 2.5 million and the median was LAK 1.8 million. There was a notable gender gap, with female employees earning, on average, LAK 0.5 million less per month than men.

Around two-third of employees had a written contract or an oral agreement, and a large majority (84 per cent) were employed on a permanent basis. Around one-third of employees worked more than 49 hours per week on all jobs. The main reasons provided for working more than 48 hours per week were ‘variable working time or nature of work’, ‘personal or family reasons or responsibilities’ and ‘to have higher income’.

Labor underutilization

A total of 604 thousand persons did not fully meet their need for employment (i.e. underemployed, unemployed or in potential labor force). Potential labor force accounted for almost two-third of underutilized labor and another 30 per cent due to unemployment. Youth accounted for 37 per cent of underutilized labor, reflecting the difficulties they faced in fully taking part in the labor market.

Social protection

Of the 4.8 million working age population, 0.8 million were covered by a social protection scheme. The National Social Security Fund constituted the biggest share of coverage (72 per cent of the covered population), followed by National Health Insurance Fund (21 per cent). Of those who reported they currently receive benefits (259 thousand), the bulk were mainly benefiting from health insurance coverage, followed by maternity benefits and survivors’ pension benefits.

Migration

A majority of those who had moved from their birthplace can be found in Vientiane Capital and Vientiane province. The reported reasons for moving mainly constituted family-related, marriage and job-related reasons. Women were much more likely to move for family-related reasons than men, while job-related reasons were more important for men than for women.

A fairly small number of 127 thousand persons were at present living in another country for more than 6 months. Almost 60 per cent of them were women. A large majority (87 per cent) were abroad for job-related reasons, sending cash and/or goods back home.

5

Chapter I. Introduction

Background

Lao PDR conducted Labor force Survey and child labor force survey in 2010 (LFS&CLS) in 2010. The main objectives of the survey are to explore the situation and condition of children in the age groups between 5 and 17 years who contributed in the active economic labor force. The target was to identify their main features, causes, working conditions and side effects; provide information on the background, prevalence and issues affecting the child labor. To build up and strengthen the data base of child labor in Lao PDR that helps provide consistent data and information for socio-economic development activities. In particular, the findings help witness the sincere commitment and initial achievement of the government to comply with the obligation to the ILO, the ratification and application of the Conventions No. 138 and 182 forwarding to the outstanding implementation of protection and promotion 7 of the rights and interest of children and eliminate the worst form of child labor.

Base on the statistical law and the National Strategy for sustainable Development of Statistical System 2016-2020 and vision for 2030, the labor force survey will be done in every five years. Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) throughout the Lao Statistics Bureau by cooperating with Mistry of Labor and Welfare has conducted the Lao Labor Force Survey in 2017. According to the new international standards, employment includes only persons working for pay or profit, excluding persons engaged wholly or mostly in subsistence foodstuff production. The effect of this is to lower the count of employment (according to the old definition) and to higher the count of unemployment because some of the subsistence foodstuff producers would be looking and available for work for pay or profit and thus be classified as unemployed.

The main objective of the survey was to collect current data on the size and characteristics of the labor force, employment, unemployment and other labor market characteristics of the population. The survey was also designed to measure different forms of work, in particular, own-use production work and other components of labor underutilization including time-related underemployment and potential labor force in line with the new international standards, adopted by the 19th International Conference of labor Statisticians (ICLS) in 2013. The results from the survey will serve as baseline data for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as Government is currently preparing for National Volunteer report on SDGs as well as to serve data for mid-term review of the national five years plan (NSEDP).

6

Chapter II: Sample and Methodology

Sample Design

The 2015 Census of Population and Housing was applied for sampling frame for LSF 2017. Base on the Census, Lao PDR has a total population of 6,479,982 distributed into 1,197,926 households. The Province of Savannakhet has the most population but Vientiane Capital has the most households. Population in Xaysomboun is lowest at 85,168, the province also has the lowest number of households at 14,316.

There were 8,500 Villages in 18 provinces. There is an average of 141 households per village. The lowest number of households of 5 was noted in a village in the province of Huaphanh. On the other hand, the most number of 1745 households was noted in a village in the Vientiane Capital. While the fewest number of villages was recorded in the Province of Xaysomboun with 96, the most number of villages was in the Province of Savannakhet with 1,015. There is large coefficient of variation (CV) for the number of households per village at

93% at the national level, as high as 96% in Xiengkhuang, and as low as around 60% in several provinces. The CV is an indication of heterogeneity among the village in terms of number of households. This implies that an equal probability of selection of villages (simple random sampling or systematic sampling) is expected to generate large sampling error. Two possible strategies can be considered, i.e., stratification and/or probability proportional to size sampling (PPS).

Two stage sampling is proposed, with selection of villages in the first stage and selection of households in the second stage. In the provincial domains, villages were selected using PPS (no need for stratification since there are fewer villages within each province). Second stage sampling comprise of systematic selection of 20 households from the updated list of households from the 2015 Census. Provincial Domains target 10,800 sample households at 3% and 6% margin of errors.

7

Table 3. Distribution of sample villages and number of surveyed household by provinces and geographic area

Code Province

Number of Sample village

Number of surveyed household

Urban Rural

Total Urban Rural Total Number % Number %

01 Vientiane Capital 30 22 8 555 403 72.6 152 27.4

02 Phongsaly 30 9 21 566 168 29.7 398 70.3

03 Luangnamtha 30 11 19 593 215 36.3 378 63.7

04 Oudomxay 30 9 21 592 180 30.4 412 69.6

05 Bokeo 29 12 17 573 236 41.2 337 58.8

06 Luangprabang 30 8 22 587 156 26.6 431 73.4

07 Huaphanh 30 7 23 592 138 23.3 454 76.7

08 Xayabury 30 10 20 595 198 33.3 397 66.7

09 Xiengkhuang 30 9 21 597 178 29.8 419 70.2

10 Vientiane 30 7 23 587 136 23.2 451 76.8

11 Borikhamxay 30 11 19 569 210 36.9 359 63.1

12 Khammuane 30 7 23 588 134 22.8 454 77.2

13 Savannakhet 30 4 26 595 80 13.4 515 86.6

14 Saravane 30 4 26 597 79 13.2 518 86.8

15 Sekong 29 8 21 572 154 26.9 418 73.1

16 Champasack 30 9 21 593 173 29.2 420 70.8

17 Attapeu 30 9 21 590 178 30.2 412 69.8

18 Xaysomboun 29 8 21 579 160 27.6 419 72.4

Lao PDR 537 164 373 10,520 3,176 30.2 7,344 69.8

Questionnaire

The questionnaire for LFS 2017 was designed in line with the new international standards and based on information need for planning and monitoring of the country. The questionnaire include following 12 modules:

Housing and household characteristics

Household Composition and Characteristics of Household Members

Educational attainment for all household members aged 5 and above

Identification of Employed person (MAIN PAID JOB OR BUSINESS ACTIVITY)

(For all household members of age 14 years and above)

Characteristics of main paid job or business activity) in the last 7 days

(For all household members of age 14 years and above); include secondary

job/business

Working time

(For all household members of age 14 years* and above, who are in employment)

8

Employment related income. For employers and own-account workers, and others

who are not paid employees/interns


Job search and availability (unemployment)

(For all household members of age 14 years* and above, who are not in

employment)

Own-use production work, of goods and services

(For all household members of age 14 years* and above)

Occupational injuries and illnesses within the last 12 months

(For all household members of age 14 years* and above)

Social protection coverage, benefits, and contributions

(For all household members of any age and sex)

labor migration a- migration, migrant workers & returns (module lma)

(For all household members of any age)

labor migration b- household members living abroad

(For all household members of age any age)

Training

The training of trainers (TOT) was conducted for 8 working days from 21 to 28 April 2017. Training covered interviewing techniques, content of the questionnaire (concept and definition), and how to recode interviewed data into CAPI. There was a total of 25 participants, 12 from the LSB, 5 from the MoLSW and 1 from the ILO. Participated the training. The training was monitored by 7 members of the National Steering Committee from the LSB and MoLSW.

The training of enumerators (TOE) was conducted for 8 working days from 7 to 14July 2017. Training covered interviewing techniques, content of the questionnaire (concept and definition) and how to recode interviewed data into CAPI. Two days field practice in 30 villages was done during the training. There was a total of 196 participants from provincial statistics office and labor departments and 1 ILO consultant.

Fieldwork and field monitoring

Fieldwork was done immediately after the completion of TOE, from 17 July and completed in August 2017. The data was collected by 54 teams, comprising of 2 enumerators. Each province has 3 teams with 1 supervisor responsible to collect data in 30 villages. There are altogether 108 enumerators and 18 supervisors.

All survey teams in each provinces were closely monitored and supervised by national and provincial steering committee in multiple visits in order to facilitate and provide technical assistance if any issue happened during the field data collection.

Data processing

Data were received at the LSB via Internet file Streaming System (IFSS) integrated into the management application on the supervisors’ tablets. The central office communicates

9

updates through this system to field teams. The data cleaning and processing were simultaneously with data collection in August 2017, and final dataset was completed in September 2017.

All date was exported into SPSS format for processing and tabulation. The dummy table and constructing of key variable were prepared in advance base on new international standards adopted by the 19th ICLS in 2013. The data processing and report writing workshop was organized for a week at Vangvieng, Vientaine province from 29 January to 2 February 2018. All key persons from social statistic department, data analysis unit and MoLW were participated in this workshop, and it was facilitated by ILO consultants. A number of consultation meetings on the results and primary report were done during March to May 2018. Finally, the report was approved by the national steering committee on 23 May 2018.

Working age population

E Economically Active population

(Labor force)

E Economically Inactive population

(Outside Labor force)

Employed population

Unemployed population

Full time student

Persons engaged exclusively in own-use production

Retired/ Old age

Infirmed/ Disability

Figure 2. Component of economically active (labor force) and economically Inactive Population (outside labor force)

10

Chapter III: Demographic characteristics

Chapter III provides data and analysis for the demographic profile of Lao PDR, beginning

with the spatial distribution of the population by regional division (provinces, Section 3.1),

followed by the household characteristics(Section 3.2), age-structure of the population

(Section 3.3), the child and elderly dependency ratios (Section 3.4) and the educational

profile of the working-age population (Section 3.5).

Spatial distribution

The total population in Lao PDR was 6.9 million in 2017 according to this survey. The most

populous provinces were Savannakhet (1.0 million), Vientiane Capital (0.9 million), and

Champasak (0.7 million). The share of population in rural areas was 73.1 per cent. Only 5 per

cent of the population, or 0.3 million persons, is estimated to be living in the rural areas

without roads.

Table 4. Total number and percentage distribution of population (0+), by geographic area, sex and provinces, 2017 (1,000)

Code Province Total Urban Rural

Both sex

Male Female Both sex


Male Female

Lao PDR 6,916 3,410 3,507 2,038 993 1,045 4,878 2,416 2,462

1 Vientiane Capital 882 420 462 593 287 306 289 133 156

2 Phongsaly 191 95 95 52 26 25 139 69 70

3 Luangnamtha 187 91 95 60 29 31 127 62 64

4 Oudomxay 330 163 167 84 41 43 246 121 125

5 Bokeo 192 101 91 46 23 24 146 79 67

6 Luangprabang 459 235 224 122 62 60 338 173 164

7 Huaphanh 309 156 153 53 28 25 257 128 129

8 Xayabury 412 206 206 125 62 62 287 144 144

9 Xiengkhuang 263 131 132 67 33 33 196 98 98

10 Vientiane 446 219 228 103 47 56 343 172 171

11 Borikhamxay 297 145 153 160 76 83 138 68 69

12 Khammuane 412 202 210 108 53 55 304 149 155

13 Savannakhet 1,018 503 515 113 56 57 905 447 458

14 Saravane 417 211 206 37 19 19 380 193 187

15 Sekong 122 59 63 19 9 10 103 50 53

16 Champasack 729 350 380 236 112 124 494 237 256

17 Attapeu 150 72 78 38 18 20 113 55 58

18 Xaysomboun 98 50 48 23 11 12 76 39 37

Percent (%)

Lao PDR 100.0 49.3 50.7 100.0 48.7 51.3 100.0 49.5 50.5

1 Vientiane Capital 100.0 47.6 52.4 100.0 48.4 51.6 100.0 46.1 53.9

2 Phongsaly 100.0 50.1 49.9 100.0 51.2 48.8 100.0 49.7 50.3

3 Luangnamtha 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 48.6 51.4 100.0 49.2 50.8

11

4 Oudomxay 100.0 49.3 50.7 100.0 49.1 50.9 100.0 49.4 50.6

5 Bokeo 100.0 52.7 47.3 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 53.8 46.2

6 Luangprabang 100.0 51.2 48.8 100.0 50.9 49.1 100.0 51.3 48.7

7 Huaphanh 100.0 50.4 49.6 100.0 52.9 47.1 100.0 49.9 50.1

8 Xayabury 100.0 50.0 50.0 100.0 50.0 50.0 100.0 50.0 50.0

9 Xiengkhuang 100.0 49.9 50.1 100.0 49.9 50.1 100.0 49.9 50.1

10 Vientiane 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 45.5 54.5 100.0 50.0 50.0

11 Borikhamxay 100.0 48.6 51.4 100.0 47.9 52.1 100.0 49.6 50.4

12 Khammuane 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 48.9 51.1 100.0 49.0 51.0

13 Savannakhet 100.0 49.4 50.6 100.0 49.7 50.3 100.0 49.4 50.6

14 Saravane 100.0 50.7 49.3 100.0 49.8 50.2 100.0 50.8 49.2

15 Sekong 100.0 48.2 51.8 100.0 47.8 52.2 100.0 48.3 51.7

16 Champasack 100.0 47.9 52.1 100.0 47.5 52.5 100.0 48.1 51.9

17 Attapeu 100.0 48.1 51.9 100.0 47.4 52.6 100.0 48.4 51.6

18 Xaysomboun 100.0 50.9 49.1 100.0 49.5 50.5 100.0 51.3 48.7

Of the 6.9 million, 4.8 million persons were of working age (15 years and above) or 68.8 per

cent of the total population. Women accounted for a little more than 50 per cent of the

working age population in both urban and rural areas. The share of working age population

in total urban population was 75.4 per cent, while in rural areas; this was much lower at

66.4 per cent. The population in rural areas is younger than in urban areas.

Table 5. Total number and percentage distribution of working-age population (15+), by geographic area, sex and provinces, (1,000)

Code Province Total

Urban

Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Lao PDR 4,758 2,328 2,430 1,530 738 792 3,228 1,590 1,638


2 Phongsaly 123 62 61 36 19 18 87 44 44

3 Luangnamtha 127 62 65 46 22 24 81 40 41

4 Oudomxay 215 105 110 61 29 32 154 76 78

5 Bokeo 130 68 62 36 17 18 95 51 44

6 Luangprabang 297 148 148 91 45 46 206 103 102

7 Huaphanh 194 96 99 39 19 19 156 76 79

8 Xayabury 302 152 150 95 47 47 208 105 103

9 Xiengkhuang 174 85 89 45 22 23 130 63 67

10 Vientiane 323 158 164 78 36 42 244 122 122

11 Borikhamxay 217 104 112 122 57 65 95 48 47

12 Khammuane 292 139 152 83 40 43 209 100 109

13 Savannakhet 694 347 347 82 41 41 611 306 305

14 Saravane 242 118 123 28 14 14 214 105 109

15 Sekong 69 33 36 12 6 7 57 27 29

12

16 Champasack 534 256 279 180 84 95 354 171 183

17 Attapeu 97 46 50 26 12 14 70 34 36

18 Xaysomboun 62 32 31 16 8 8 47 24 23

Percent (%)

Lao PDR 100.0 48.9 51.1 100.0 48.2 51.8 100.0 49.3 50.7


2 Phongsaly 100.0 50.3 49.7 100.0 51.1 48.9 100.0 49.9 50.1

3 Luangnamtha 100.0 48.8 51.2 100.0 48.3 51.7 100.0 49.1 50.9

4 Oudomxay 100.0 48.9 51.1 100.0 47.9 52.1 100.0 49.3 50.7

5 Bokeo 100.0 52.4 47.6 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 53.7 46.3

6 Luangprabang 100.0 50.0 50.0 100.0 49.6 50.4 100.0 50.2 49.8

7 Huaphanh 100.0 49.3 50.7 100.0 50.2 49.8 100.0 49.0 51.0

8 Xayabury 100.0 50.2 49.8 100.0 50.1 49.9 100.0 50.3 49.7

9 Xiengkhuang 100.0 48.7 51.3 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 48.6 51.4

10 Vientiane 100.0 49.1 50.9 100.0 45.9 54.1 100.0 50.1 49.9

11 Borikhamxay 100.0 48.2 51.8 100.0 46.7 53.3 100.0 50.1 49.9

12 Khammuane 100.0 47.8 52.2 100.0 48.0 52.0 100.0 47.7 52.3

13 Savannakhet 100.0 50.0 50.0 100.0 49.8 50.2 100.0 50.1 49.9

14 Saravane 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 50.0 50.0 100.0 48.9 51.1

15 Sekong 100.0 47.7 52.3 100.0 46.3 53.7 100.0 48.1 51.9

16 Champasack 100.0 47.8 52.2 100.0 47.0 53.0 100.0 48.3 51.7

17 Attapeu 100.0 48.0 52.0 100.0 47.2 52.8 100.0 48.3 51.7

18 Xaysomboun 100.0 50.5 49.5 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 51.1 48.9

13

Table 6. Total number and percentage distribution of working-age population (15+), by geographic area, sex, education attained and provinces, (1,000)

Province Total Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Educational attained

Not enrolled 950 306 644 146 42 103 804 264 541

Less than primary 1,603 801 802 371 164 208 1,232 638 594

Primary completed 869 475 394 298 149 149 571 327 245

Lower secondary 614 339 276 270 143 127 344 196 148

Upper Secondary 207 115 92 108 57 51 100 59 41

Vocational first 48 30 19 27 15 12 21 14 7

Vocational middle 135 78 57 77 41 36 58 37 22

Vocational high 183 99 84 120 62 57 63 36 27

University and upper 148 86 62 114 66 49 34 21 13

Percent (%)


Not enrolled 100.0 32.2 67.8 100.0 29.0 71.0 100.0 32.8 67.2

Less than primary 100.0 50.0 50.0 100.0 44.1 55.9 100.0 51.7 48.3

Primary completed 100.0 54.7 45.3 100.0 49.8 50.2 100.0 57.2 42.8

Lower secondary 100.0 55.1 44.9 100.0 52.9 47.1 100.0 56.9 43.1

Upper Secondary 100.0 55.6 44.4 100.0 52.8 47.2 100.0 58.6 41.4

Vocational first 100.0 61.0 39.0 100.0 56.1 43.9 100.0 67.3 32.7

Vocational middle 100.0 57.5 42.5 100.0 53.3 46.7 100.0 62.9 37.1

Vocational high 100.0 53.9 46.1 100.0 52.2 47.8 100.0 57.1 42.9

University and upper 100.0 58.3 41.7 100.0 57.5 42.5 100.0 61.1 38.9

14

Table 7. Total number and percentage distribution of working-age population (15+), by geographic area, sex, and age group, (1,000)


Both sex

male female Both sex


male female

Age group

Total(15+) 4,758 2,328 2,430 1,530 738 792 3,228 1,590 1,638

Adult(25+) 3,474 1,704 1,770 1,170 565 604 2,305 1,139 1,166

Youth(15-24) 1,284 624 660 360 173 187 923 451 472

15-19 730 364 366 194 95 99 536 269 267

20-24 554 260 293 166 78 88 387 182 205

25-29 584 284 301 177 84 93 408 200 208

30-34 516 241 274 175 76 99 341 165 175

35-39 495 250 245 163 81 83 332 170 162

40-44 403 204 199 135 67 68 268 137 131

45-49 380 186 195 136 68 68 244 118 126

50-54 306 146 160 113 52 60 193 94 100

55-59 277 138 139 99 53 46 179 86 93

60-64 191 99 92 66 33 33 125 66 59

65+ 321 156 165 106 51 55 215 104 110

Percent (%)

Age group

Total(15+) 100.0 48.9 51.1 100.0 48.2 51.8 100.0 49.3 50.7

Adult(25+) 100.0 49.0 51.0 100.0 48.3 51.7 100.0 49.4 50.6

Youth(15-24) 100.0 48.6 51.4 100.0 48.0 52.0 100.0 48.9 51.1

15-19 100.0 49.8 50.2 100.0 48.8 51.2 100.0 50.2 49.8

20-24 100.0 47.0 53.0 100.0 47.1 52.9 100.0 47.0 53.0

25-29 100.0 48.6 51.4 100.0 47.5 52.5 100.0 49.0 51.0

30-34 100.0 46.8 53.2 100.0 43.5 56.5 100.0 48.5 51.5

35-39 100.0 50.6 49.4 100.0 49.4 50.6 100.0 51.1 48.9

40-44 100.0 50.6 49.4 100.0 49.9 50.1 100.0 51.0 49.0

45-49 100.0 48.8 51.2 100.0 49.8 50.2 100.0 48.2 51.8

50-54 100.0 47.6 52.4 100.0 46.3 53.7 100.0 48.3 51.7

55-59 100.0 49.9 50.1 100.0 53.3 46.7 100.0 47.9 52.1

60-64 100.0 51.9 48.1 100.0 50.4 49.6 100.0 52.7 47.3

65+ 100.0 48.5 51.5 100.0 48.3 51.7 100.0 48.6 51.4

15

Household Characteristics

The average household size was 4.9 persons. In all provinces, there were more than 4

persons in a household, on average.

Figure 3. Average household size

A large majority of the households was headed by men (86.9 per cent). The share of female-

headed households among all households was the highest in Vientiane Capital (21.2 per

cent), Khammuan (20.4 per cent) and Champasack (18.6 per cent). Female-headed

households were more prevalent in the urban areas (17.2 per cent) than in the rural areas

(11.2 per cent), except in Phongsaly.

4.6

5.2 5.4 5.3 5.34.9

5.6

4.5

5.04.8

4.4 4.4

5.55.1

5.9

4.2

4.95.2

4.9

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

16

Table 8. Percentage distribution of sex of household head by geographic area and province


Male Female Male Female Male Female

Lao PDR 86.9 13.1 82.8 17.2 88.8 11.2

1 Vientiane Capital 78.8 21.2 77.1 22.9 82.5 17.5

2 Phongsaly 94.3 5.7 97.2 2.8 93.1 6.9

3 Luangnamtha 92.7 7.3 91.8 8.2 93.3 6.7

4 Oudomxay 92.1 7.9 91.7 8.3 92.2 7.8

5 Bokeo 91.2 8.8 90.5 9.5 91.4 8.6

6 Luangprabang 92.4 7.6 87.3 12.7 94.4 5.6

7 Huaphanh 95.9 4.1 91.2 8.8 97.3 2.7

8 Xayabury 92.5 7.5 90.9 9.1 93.3 6.7

9 Xiengkhuang 92.4 7.6 92.2 7.8 92.5 7.5

10 Vientiane 89.0 11.0 81.4 18.6 91.4 8.6

11 Borikhamxay 86.0 14.0 84.1 15.9 88.4 11.6

12 Khammuane 79.6 20.4 75.8 24.2 81.0 19.0

13 Savannakhet 86.3 13.7 82.0 18.0 86.9 13.1

14 Saravane 87.6 12.4 77.2 22.8 88.8 11.2

15 Sekong 93.6 6.4 85.1 14.9 95.5 4.5

16 Champasack 81.4 18.6 79.8 20.2 82.1 17.9

17 Attapeu 88.5 11.5 79.8 20.2 91.9 8.1

18 Xaysomboun 95.7 4.3 93.8 6.2 96.4 3.6

Around 65.2 per cent of households in Lao PDR had access to improved sources of drinking

water. Nine in ten households in the urban areas had access to improved sources of drinking

water, while around 53per cent in the rural areas had access to such improved sources.

Access to improved sources of drinking water is a particular challenge in Huapanh and

Phongsaly where less than 19 per cent of the households had access.

17

Table 9. Percentage distribution of household by source of drinking water and province

Code

Improved drinking water

unimproved drinking water

Province Piped water

Well/ borehole protected

Bottle/ can

water

Tank water

Well/ borehole

unprotected

River/ Stream/

Dam

Mountain source

Rain water

Other Total Improved drinking

water

1 Vientiane Capital 0.14 0.36 98.85 0.21 - - 0.2 - 0.24 100.0 99.6

2 Phongsaly 8.5 0.36 9.94 - 0.33 8.14 72.57 0.15 - 100.0 18.8

3 Luangnamtha 18.29 11.92 29.9 - 0.85 3.12 35.72 0.2 - 100.0 60.1

4 Oudomxay 3.59 0.38 30.88 - - 2.98 61.12 1.05 - 100.0 34.8

5 Bokeo 8.86 7.61 28.58 - 1.66 1.67 51.5 - 0.12 100.0 45.0

6 Luangprabang 2.17 1.83 40.92 - 0.77 0.95 53.36 - - 100.0 44.9

7 Huaphanh 11.91 0.14 5.94 - 0.14 2.96 78.75 - 0.16 100.0 18.0

8 Xayabury 1.66 2.02 61.47 0.72 4.33 0.09 8.66 3.07 17.98 100.0 65.9

9 Xiengkhuang 2.07 7.11 34.11 - 8.41 0.65 43.17 - 4.48 100.0 43.3

10 Vientiane 1.75 4.93 81.13 - 1.03 1.49 6.18 2.03 1.47 100.0 87.8

11 Borikhamxay 0.31 25.51 62.2 - 0.79 - 5.87 - 5.32 100.0 88.0

12 Khammuane 0.56 30.11 55.87 - 7.81 3.97 1.69 - - 100.0 86.5

13 Savannakhet 0.86 35.73 40.9 - 7.11 1.91 4.31 8.82 0.36 100.0 77.5

14 Saravane 0.05 27.38 16.5 - 4.12 1.74 21.79 4.47 23.96 100.0 43.9

15 Sekong 23.72 10.25 15.52 - 1.07 12.57 36.53 0.15 0.2 100.0 49.5

16 Champasack 4.57 27.25 42.99 0.19 1.57 3.94 3.92 15.06 0.5 100.0 75.0

17 Attapeu 2.08 19.51 36.87 - 11.12 9.76 13.84 6.38 0.45 100.0 58.4

18 Xaysomboon 1.37 7.42 12.92 0.45 0.59 1.94 74.96 - 0.35 100.0 22.2

Geographic area

Urban 6.5 7.51 79.13 0.12 0.75 0.22 4.86 0.46 0.45 100.0 93.3

Rural 1.98 17.67 33.23 0.08 3.89 3.18 30.47 4.48 5.02 100.0 53.0

Lao PDR 3.35 14.59 47.16 0.09 2.94 2.28 22.7 3.26 3.63 100.0 65.2

18

The electricity supply by the government covered around 1 million households (87.1 per

cent). When all forms of electricity supplies are included, 93.1 per cent of the households in

Lao PDR had access to electricity. All urban households had access to electricity, while 90.3

per cent in rural areas. Access to electricity was still limited in Luangprabang and in

Saravane, where 27 per cent and 18 per cent of the households reported having no

electricity.

Table 10. Percentage distribution of household by type of electricity and provinces

Code Province Household

(1,000) Yes (own meter)

Yes (share meter)

Yes (own generator)

Yes, (use batteries)

No

1 Vientiane Capital 127 97.8 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.4

2 Phongsaly 32 56.2 1.3 20.1 13.5 8.9

3 Luangnamtha 31 83.9 3.7 0.0 11.1 1.2

4 Oudomxay 54 73.9 8.9 1.7 3.9 11.6

5 Bokeo 47 85.8 2.5 10.2 0.1 1.5

6 Luangprabang 77 58.7 11.0 0.4 2.2 27.7

7 Huaphanh 48 61.1 7.5 16.5 3.1 11.9

8 Xayabury 75 90.2 5.7 0.0 0.2 4.0

9 Xiengkhuang 43 89.0 3.1 1.3 0.2 6.4

10 Vientiane 79 95.7 4.1 0.0 0.0 0.2

11 Borikhamxay 75 97.5 2.2 0.1 0.0 0.1

12 Khammuane 77 84.7 8.5 1.9 2.0 2.9

13 Savannakhet 134 88.9 2.9 0.0 0.0 8.2

14 Saravane 78 54.7 2.3 0.1 25.1 17.8

15 Sekong 22 51.3 5.5 20.7 14.4 8.1

16 Champasack 103 93.4 3.5 0.0 0.2 2.9

17 Attapeu 22 66.2 7.9 13.8 1.1 11.1

18 Xaysomboon 18 84.9 11.9 0.3 0.1 2.8

Geographic area

Urban 352 95.0 2.7 1.6 0.2 0.5

Rural 788 76.9 5.5 3.1 4.7 9.7

Lao PDR 1,140 82.4 4.7 2.6 3.4 6.9

19

67 per cent of the households used wood as the main source of energy for cooking, while

another 24 per cent used charcoal. Use of charcoal for cooking was more frequent in the

urban areas accounting for 37 per cent of the urban households. Wood was the most often

used source of energy for cooking in the rural areas.

Table 11. Percentage distribution of household by main source of energy for cooking

Code Provinces H

ou

seh

old

(1

,00

0)

Energy cooking

Elec

tric

ity

Par

affi

n

Wo

od

Co

al

Ch

arco

al

Saw

du

st

Gas

Oth

er

1 Vientiane Capital 127 7.2 - 20.3 7.9 44.7 0.3 2.4 -

2 Phongsaly 32 3.2 - 93.0 - - - - -

3 Luangnamtha 31 8.7 - 79.1 0.2 - - 0.8 -

4 Oudomxay 54 2.2 - 3.6 - 0.2 - 2.8 -

5 Bokeo 47 1.8 - 86.2 - - - 11.0 -

6 Luangprabang 77 1.6 0.2 94.3 0.2 0.7 - 0.7 -

7 Huaphanh 48 1.3 - 95.0 0.2 0.2 - 1.8 0.3

8 Xayabury 75 0.8 - 79.5 0.1 17.4 - 1.2 0.2

9 Xiengkhuang 43 2.5 - 96.2 - 0.4 - 0.5 -

10 Vientiane 79 1.2 0.1 81.2 0.5 11.9 0.2 2.7 -

11 Borikhamxay 75 2.9 - 59.4 0.6 31.2 - 1.6 0.1

12 Khammuane 77 4.4 0.1 54.6 0.6 37.2 0.3 0.2 0.4

13 Savannakhet 134 2.1 - 58.6 0.8 37.4 - - -

14 Saravane 78 - - 74.3 0.4 24.4 - - 0.5

15 Sekong 22 5.6 - 82.7 0.3 10.2 - 0.2 -

16 Champasack 103 1.0 - 34.3 1.0 61.6 0.2 0.6 0.2

17 Attapeu 22 6.6 0.4 72.7 1.7 15.7 - 0.8 -

18 Xaysomboon 18 2.5 - 96.8 0.1 0.2 - 0.3 -

Geographic area

Urban 352 6.0 - 43.8 1.8 37.1 0.2 7.2 0.0

Rural 788 1.7 0.1 77.2 1.0 17.7 0.0 0.6 0.1

Lao PDR 1,140 3.1 0.0 66.9 1.3 23.7 0.1 2.6 0.1

20

A large majority of the households had flush toilet at 72 per cent, or 825 thousand

households in Lao PDR. More than 90 per cent of the urban households had flush toilet. In

contrast, a notable number of rural households reported having no toilet at all – 29.5 per

cent in rural areas. Lack of toilet facilities in households was particularly serious in Saravane

(75 per cent), Sekong (41 per cent) and Attapeu (38 per cent).

Table 12. Percentage distribution of household by type of toilet facilities used by household

Code Provinces

Toilet facilities

Ho

use

ho

ld

(1,0

00

)

Flu

sh/p

ou

r fl

ush

Pit

Lat

rin

e

ven

tila

ted

Pit

Lat

rin

e

oth

er

Co

mp

osi

tin

g to

ilet

Bu

cke

t

Han

gin

g to

ilet

No

to

ilet

1 Vientiane Capital 127 92.1 0.2 - 0.2 - - 0.4

2 Phongsaly 32 49.8 0.2 0.2 1.1 0.2 9.5 35.3

3 Luangnamtha 31 90.5 - - - - - 8.4

4 Oudomxay 54 49.2 10.4 4.6 1.3 - 10.3 23.0

5 Bokeo 47 91.7 0.1 0.8 - - - 6.4

6 Luangprabang 77 63.6 0.2 - 0.2 0.7 0.2 32.7

7 Huaphanh 48 75.1 - - 0.2 - 1.6 21.9

8 Xayabury 75 92.5 - 0.1 0.3 0.4 - 5.9

9 Xiengkhuang 43 92.2 - 0.2 - - - 7.2

10 Vientiane 79 71.9 14.7 6.5 0.4 - - 4.2

11 Borikhamxay 75 93.7 0.3 - - - - 1.7

12 Khammuane 77 72.2 0.2 - - - - 25.5

13 Savannakhet 134 69.1 0.2 - - - - 29.6

14 Saravane 78 24.7 - - - - - 74.9

15 Sekong 22 53.5 1.2 1.6 1.5 0.4 - 40.9

16 Champasack 103 68.3 1.7 0.2 0.1 0.6 - 28.1

17 Attapeu 22 55.3 1.3 2.3 0.5 - 0.2 38.2

18 Xaysomboon SR 18 74.5 0.7 11.1 0.4 - - 13.2

Geographic Area

Urban 352 90.3 1.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.5 3.2

Rural 788 64.4 2.0 1.3 0.3 0.1 1.0 29.5

Lao PDR 1,140 72.4 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.8 21.4

21

Motor bikes were the most frequently owned vehicle in Lao PDR at 79 per cent of the

households (902 thousand), followed by tractors at 38 per cent (432 thousand). More urban

households owned motor bikes, car/van or bicycles than in the rural areas, while more rural

households owned tractors and boats than in the urban areas.

Table 13. Percentage distribution of household by household assets (Vehicle)

Code Provinces Household

(1,000) Tractor Car/van Motor-bike Bicycle Boat

1 Vientiane Capital 127 16.1 38.7 88.5 27.1 0.9

2 Phongsaly 32 28.9 8.6 71.0 1.9 1.5

3 Luangnamtha 31 31.7 19.6 87.3 27.1 2.3

4 Oudomxay 54 21.5 11.6 66.7 9.1 3.2

5 Bokeo 47 20.8 12.7 65.3 18.3 16.7

6 Luangprabang 77 9.3 7.3 65.9 17.8 1.9

7 Huaphanh 48 29.6 12.8 74.6 5.4 1.8

8 Xayabury 75 46.4 12.6 81.5 32.2 6.3

9 Xiengkhuang 43 36.5 30 93.8 21.2 0.9

10 Vientiane 79 41.4 22.1 87.7 30.6 4.8

11 Borikhamxay 75 43.9 26.0 85.8 19.2 9.1

12 Khammuane 77 46.6 17.7 78.2 35.4 9.9

13 Savannakhet 134 74.4 10.4 77.6 18.0 5.7

14 Saravane 78 53.8 8.3 75.0 9.4 1.0

15 Sekong 22 19.6 8.6 62.8 6.7 -

16 Champasack 103 36.6 20.4 82.6 17.1 7.7

17 Attapeu 22 35.7 11.7 71.4 7.5 9.5

18 Xaysomboon SR 18 39.6 12.2 88.4 17 7.8

Geographic Area

Urban 352 24.9 33.4 88.5 25.8 2.9

Rural 788 43.7 10.8 75.0 17.3 6.0

Lao PDR 1,140 37.9 17.8 79.1 19.9 5.0

22

More than half of households in Lao PDR owned a fan (67 per cent) and fridge/freezer (60 per cent). Ownership of all household appliances included in the survey was more prevalent among the urban households than the rural households.

Table 14. Percentage distribution of household by household assets (Device)

Code Province Washing machine Air conditioner Fan Fridge/Freezer

1 Vientiane Capital 49.9 31.2 92.1 88.2

2 Phongsaly 3.3 1.1 20.7 29.7

3 Luangnamtha 14.6 8.3 61.7 44.9

4 Oudomxay 8.3 3.3 46.1 31.7

5 Bokeo 19.7 6.5 75.4 53.4

6 Luangprabang 5.5 2.8 43.2 33.9

7 Huaphanh 8.3 3.6 40.8 26.1

8 Xayabury 32.0 2.7 85.2 71.5

9 Xiengkhuang 13.4 1.2 42.4 49.9

10 Vientiane 32.9 10.9 91.7 81.5

11 Borikhamxay 47.4 11.5 87.7 80.5

12 Khammuane 20.2 9.7 82.6 76.0

13 Savannakhet 4.7 3.2 69.5 63.0

14 Saravane 4.3 1.7 39.9 25.5

15 Sekong 6.1 2.2 26.5 27.9

16 Champasack 13.1 9.3 73.0 79.2

17 Attapeu 13.1 4.9 58.8 45.7

18 Xaysomboon SR 5.8 2.2 61.5 65.7

Geographic Area

Urban 42.9 21.2 87.9 83.9

Rural 9.5 2.7 58.2 49.8

Lao PDR 19.8 8.4 67.4 60.3

23

Around two-third of the households owned a television (66 per cent) and a cell phone (64

per cent), more so in the urban areas than in the rural areas. For fixed-line telephones and

radio, urban and rural households were almost equally likely to own them. The ownership of

computer was clearly more prevalent in the urban areas at 15 per cent (51 thousand

households) compared to just 2 per cent in the rural areas.

Table 15. Percentage distribution of household by household assets (Communication Device)

Code Provinces Radio Television Telephone fixed Cell phone Computer

1 Vientiane Capital 10.3 89.5 4.2 88.5 20.7

2 Phongsaly 18.1 60.1 26.0 64.6 3.1

3 Luangnamtha 4.6 73.4 27.4 73.0 6.7

4 Oudomxay 13.6 66.2 15.0 58.8 6.2

5 Bokeo 4.4 69.9 14.1 53.5 5.4

6 Luangprabang 18.4 52.0 26.3 49.3 2.3

7 Huaphanh 1.3 53.4 6.4 70.5 2.0

8 Xayabury 10.0 85.9 17.4 78.2 3.8

9 Xiengkhuang 8.5 74.1 32.6 81.4 9.1

10 Vientiane 15.6 89.4 26.6 84.7 4.2

11 Borikhamxay 13.2 84.9 18.8 82.5 4.6

12 Khammuane 17.3 79.0 3.6 57.4 5.0

13 Savannakhet 20.2 69.9 11.6 50.5 1.8

14 Saravane 5.2 42.8 23.8 35.1 1.5

15 Sekong 6.1 49.7 14.5 27.6 3.4

16 Champasack 7.0 84.6 14.6 59.1 3.7

17 Attapeu 7.5 65.6 11.3 60.5 4.4

18 Xaysomboon SR 10.0 66.3 69.2 63.6 4.1

Geographic Area

Urban 11.7 88.0 16.5 80.8 14.6

Rural 11.8 66.2 17.0 57.4 1.7

Lao PDR 11.7 72.9 16.9 64.6 5.7

24

Majority of the households (58 per cent) reported having the same income as last year. For

those who experienced a change in income, almost twice as many households reported an

increase in income (311 thousand) rather than a decrease (155 thousand). An increase in

income was more likely among the urban households (34 per cent) than among the rural

households (around 25 per cent). More than 50 per cent of the households reported an

increase in income in Xiengkhuang (26 thousand) and in Borikhamxay (38 thousand), while

households in Oudomxay and Attapeu were more likely to report a decrease in income (14

and 5 thousand, respectively, or nearly 25 per cent of the households).

Table 16. Number and percentage distribution of household by household’s income Status

Code Province Household Income

Increased (1,000)

% Decreased

(1,000) %

Same (1,000)

%

1 Vientiane Capital 40 33.4 16 13.1 63 53.5

2 Phongsaly 14 45.8 3 10.8 13 43.4

3 Luangnamtha 8 27.5 2 5.7 20 66.8

4 Oudomxay 18 34.0 14 26.2 21 39.8

5 Bokeo 7 16.1 8 16.9 31 67.0

6 Luangprabang 17 23.0 7 9.6 51 67.4

7 Huaphanh 11 23.9 5 11.1 31 65.0

8 Xayabury 25 33.4 11 14.3 39 52.3

9 Xiengkhuang 26 61.1 2 5.0 15 33.9

10 Vientiane 15 19.9 9 12.1 52 68.1

11 Borikhamxay 38 52.7 8 11.6 26 35.7

12 Khammuane 13 16.8 9 12.3 53 70.9

13 Savannakhet 37 28.3 21 15.7 74 56.0

14 Saravane 15 19.0 8 9.9 55 71.0

15 Sekong 4 17.0 5 22.0 13 60.9

16 Champasack 13 13.2 19 19.0 69 67.7

17 Attapeu 2 10.5 5 24.4 14 65.1

18 Xaysomboon 7 38.9 3 16.7 8 44.4

Geographic Area

Urban 116 34.2 36 10.7 186 55.1

Rural 196 25.2 119 15.3 462 59.5

Lao PDR 311 27.9 155 13.9 648 58.2

25

The top three reasons cited for a fall in income were unspecified reasons (21.6 per cent), no

agricultural production (18.8 percent) and unemployment (17.8 percent). Other reasons for

a fall in income were more important in the urban areas (30.2 per cent), while no

agricultural production was the most important reason in the rural areas (20.6 per cent).

Table 17. Percentage distribution of reason fall in income compare to last year by province, geographic area

Code Province

Flo

od

Dro

ugh

t

Enem

y cr

op

Epid

emic

s

Bu

sin

ess

clo

sin

g

du

e to

eco

no

mic

re

cess

ion

Pri

ce o

il in

crea

sed

Pri

ce in

flat

ion

fore

st f

ire

sto

rms

lan

dsl

ides

no

agr

icu

ltu

re

pro

du

ctio

n

un

emp

loye

d

oth

er

1 Vientiane Capital

4.4 0.0 1.5 0.0 1.9 1.6 46.2 0.0 0.0 1.4 2.4 12.9 27.7

2 Phongsaly 0.0 1.3 1.9 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 14.9 25.4 53.1

3 Luangnamtha 8.8 6.7 7.6 0.0 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 41.2 11.3 20.3

4 Oudomxay 1.4 39.1 2.1 0.6 1.0 0.0 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.7 19.1 20.0 14.8

5 Bokeo 0.7 10.7 1.2 0.0 0.7 0.9 3.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 63.9 10.6 8.1

6 Luangprabang 5.1 11.3 52.3 3.3 0.0 0.0 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.8 1.5 15.2

7 Huaphanh 7.8 2.6 4.4 1.1 3.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 50.8 3.5 24.9

8 Xayabury 2.1 4.7 5.4 0.8 3.9 1.4 9.4 1.0 1.1 0.9 27.8 8.2 33.2

9 Xiengkhuang 0.0 1.4 7.2 0.0 25.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4 38.1 4.9 21.8

10 Vientiane 2.2 5.6 12.4 13.3 4.2 0.0 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 13.8 44.1

11 Borikhamxay 5.2 0.0 1.7 0.0 21.7 0.0 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.2 21.5 9.3 36.2

12 Khammuane 11.8 2.6 1.1 0.0 5.2 0.0 8.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.5 43.3

13 Savannakhet 6.5 5.0 1.4 0.0 3.2 13.9 15.1 1.0 0.0 3.6 16.2 30.1 3.9

14 Saravane 4.0 0.2 3.8 3.8 26.2 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 26.0 18.2 17.2

15 Sekong 1.3 7.7 29.2 13.5 7.0 0.6 0.2 0.0 1.4 0.0 3.1 6.1 30.0

16 Champasack 9.0 1.8 17 4.1 3.7 2.1 2.2 0.0 0.8 0.0 26.4 12.7 20.3

17 Attapeu 1.0 0.0 1.1 1.5 26.1 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.7 12.5 22.2 33.3

18 Xaysomboon 5.1 0.0 1.7 7.8 1.4 0.0 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.9 12.5 47.4 20.6

Geographic area

Urban 5.5 2.4 3.5 2.3 8.6 4.3 13.9 0.0 0.1 1.0 12.6 15.6 30.2

Rural 4.9 7.5 8.4 2.3 5.0 3.5 8.2 0.5 0.3 1.2 20.6 18.5 19.1

Lao PDR 5.0 6.4 7.3 2.3 5.8 3.6 9.4 0.4 0.3 1.2 18.8 17.8 21.6

26

A majority of the households reported that they had not received any assistance from any

organizations (50.3 percent). By far the most frequently cited method of coping with a fall in

income was a reduction in household expenditures (29.8 percent), followed by selling of

property or livestock (7.1 percent) and assistance from friends or relatives (4.1 percent). A

reduction in household expenditures was the often-used method of coping with a fall in

income in both urban and rural areas.

Table 18. Percentage distribution of household by source/ methods used to overcome problem faced due to fall in income

Code Province

No

ass

ista

nce

fro

m

any

org

aniz

atio

n

Rec

eive

d a

ssis

tan

ce

fro

m t

he

gove

rnm

ent

Rec

eive

d a

ssis

tan

ce

fro

m N

GO

Fro

m lo

cal

com

mu

nit

y

org

aniz

atio

n

Ass

ista

nce

fro

m

rela

tive

s/fr

ien

ds

Incr

ease

wo

rkin

g h

ou

rs o

f h

ou

seh

old

mem

ber

Sold

p

rop

ert

y/liv

esto

ck

Red

uce

d h

ou

seh

old

ex

pen

dit

ure

Oth

er


2 Phongsaly 76.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 0.0 0.0 16.8 4.6

3 Luangnamtha 38.4 0.0 5.1 0.0 6.2 0.0 5.6 38.6 6.2

4 Oudomxay 90.6 1.3 0.0 0.7 2.6 0.0 1.1 3.7 0.0

5 Bokeo 26.6 8.9 53.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.6 1.4

6 Luangprabang 82.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 11.4 4.0

7 Huaphanh 41.2 2.3 5.0 16.7 0.0 1.2 1.0 18.5 14.1

8 Xayabury 49.6 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 9.3 14.6 24.7 0.0

9 Xiengkhuang 55.8 6.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.7 18.6 9.3

10 Vientiane 42.7 1.6 0.0 1.5 2.5 0.4 1.1 44.1 2.4

11 Borikhamxay 48.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 6.7 41.9 0.8

12 Khammuane 39.9 1.2 0.0 0.0 2.3 6.5 2.6 43.4 4.0

13 Savannakhet 34.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 0.0 26 36.5 0.8

14 Saravane 39.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.9 0.0 0.0 50.6 2.1

15 Sekong 36.5 0.4 0.0 0.0 13.3 0.0 0.6 43.0 6.3

16 Champasack 44.5 0.5 0.0 0.8 15.6 3.3 0.5 33.6 1.4

17 Attapeu 77.3 0.0 0.9 0.0 1.8 0.0 1.2 15.4 3.4

18 Xaysomboon 43.7 0.4 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.5 18.4 32.9 1.1

Geographic Area

Urban 49.8 1.3 0.2 0.0 3.3 1.4 6.3 33.9 3.9

Rural 50.5 0.9 3.5 1.1 4.3 2.0 7.3 28.7 1.6

Lao PDR 50.3 1.0 2.8 0.8 4.1 1.9 7.1 29.8 2.1

A large majority of households did not have any loans (970 thousand or 87 per cent of the

households). This situation was similar in both urban and rural areas. The incidence of

household indebtedness was higher in Oudomxay (29.3 per cent), Phongsaly (22 per cent)

and Huaphanh (19.8 per cent) than in other provinces.

27

Table 19. Number and percentage distribution of household by status of loaning, province and geographic area.

Code Province

Loan

Yes No

Household (1,000) % Household (1,000) %

1 Vientiane Capital 13 10.9 105 89.1

2 Phongsaly 7 22.0 24 78.0

3 Luangnamtha 5 17.5 25 82.5

4 Oudomxay 16 29.3 37 70.7

5 Bokeo 3 7.2 43 92.8

6 Luangprabang 10 12.8 66 87.2

7 Huaphanh 9 19.8 38 80.2

8 Xayabury 14 18.7 60 81.3

9 Xiengkhuang 8 19.6 35 80.4

10 Vientiane 8 9.9 69 90.1

11 Borikhamxay 8 10.5 64 89.5

12 Khammuane 8 10.8 67 89.2

13 Savannakhet 18 13.8 114 86.2

14 Saravane 3 4.2 75 95.8

15 Sekong 2 9.1 20 90.9

16 Champasack 9 8.7 93 91.3

17 Attapeu 2 8.2 20 91.8

18 Xaysomboon 2 12.0 16 88.0

Geographic Area

Urban 39 11.7 299 88.3

Rural 105 13.5 671 86.5

Lao PDR 145 13.0 970 87.0

28

Among households with a loan, the main reasons cited were agricultural production (33 per

cent) and to meet essential household expenditures (29.9 per cent). These were the main

reasons for incurring a debt particularly among rural households. The third main reason for

taking a loan was to operate or expand a business (10.2 per cent).

Table 20. Percentage of household with loaning by main reason for loaning by province and geographic area

Code Province To

mee

t es

sen

tial

ho

use

ho

ld

exp

end

itu

re

To b

uy

veh

icle

fo

r h

ou

seh

old

mem

ber

To p

urc

has

e/

rem

od

el/r

epai

red

/c

on

stru

ct a

ho

use

Fo

r h

ealt

h r

elat

ed

ex

pen

dit

ure

For

ritu

al

exp

end

itu

res

To o

per

ate/

exp

and

b

usi

nes

s

To p

ay p

revi

ou

s lo

an

For

agri

cult

ure

pro

du

ctio

n

Oth

er


2 Phongsaly 39.8 3.8 3.4 8.2 0.0 6.8 0.8 22.6 14.6

3 Luangnamtha 38.6 14.3 10.0 1.1 0.0 18.3 0.0 16.8 0.9

4 Oudomxay 17.6 0.5 3.2 7.9 0.6 12.5 0.0 50.7 7.1

5 Bokeo 30.7 4.2 1.3 39.8 0.0 4.0 0.0 19.2 0.8

6 Luangprabang 16.3 2.5 2.2 20.0 1.5 10.9 0.7 38.5 7.2

7 Huaphanh 4.4 2.8 7.4 6.7 0.0 3.2 0.8 35.9 38.7

8 Xayabury 43.8 2.7 3.7 2.0 0.0 4.2 0.0 40.0 3.7

9 Xiengkhuang 1.9 1.0 3.6 0.4 0.0 11.1 0.0 73.9 8.1

10 Vientiane 27.6 2.8 8.3 10.1 0.0 17.3 2.7 21.8 9.4

11 Borikhamxay 27.5 9.7 7.9 2.1 0.0 18.1 0.0 29.8 4.9

12 Khammuane 33.1 4.5 10.1 11.5 1.6 16.5 0.0 16.3 6.4

13 Savannakhet 31.1 10.0 0.7 4.2 0.0 1.1 0.0 35.8 17.1

14 Saravane 40.8 8.6 0.0 9.6 0.8 2.3 0.0 38.0 0.0

15 Sekong 21.8 13.3 6.3 15.8 1.4 12.1 0.0 11.8 17.4

16 Champasack 34.0 4.8 6.6 10.1 1.1 17.7 0.0 19.0 6.7

17 Attapeu 46.3 5.9 2.2 0.0 0.0 18.9 0.0 21.7 5.1

18 Xaysomboon 6.4 4.3 7.6 4.1 0.0 6.7 1.2 45.6 24.1

Geographic Area

Urban 26.7 4.5 8.2 4.0 0.0 25.7 0.0 22.9 7.9

Rural 31.0 4.8 2.9 8.5 0.5 4.8 0.4 36.5 10.6

Lao PDR 29.9 4.7 4.3 7.4 0.4 10.2 0.3 33.0 9.9

29

The main sources of loan were the Government bank and village development fund

followed by Village development fund.

Table 21. Percentage distribution of household with loaning by source of loaning by province and geographic area

Code Province

Loan source

Go

vern

men

t

ban

k

Pri

vate

ban

k

Ind

ivid

ual

m

on

ey le

nd

er

fri

end

s

rel

ativ

es

Vill

age

dev

elo

pm

ent

fun

d

Oth

er (

spec

ify)

1 Vientiane Capital 17.4 24.1 9.7 1.8 3.3 34.4 9.3

2 Phongsaly 57.9 2.5 0.7 0.8 33.1 4.2 0.8

3 Luangnamtha 62.6 7.3 0.0 0.0 2.1 28.0 0.0

4 Oudomxay 64.8 6.7 3.4 1.3 15.7 6.9 1.3

5 Bokeo 30.5 5.2 1.7 1.0 57.6 4.1 0.0

6 Luangprabang 49.3 1.5 1.2 1.7 28.5 14.7 3.2

7 Huaphanh 49.1 4.5 1.7 0.8 11.8 5.3 26.7

8 Xayabury 40.6 3.0 17.3 0.9 17.2 21.0 0.0

9 Xiengkhuang 94.6 0.7 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.9 2.7

10 Vientiane 44 7.8 1.9 5.2 13.3 24.5 3.3

11 Borikhamxay 41.4 7.3 3.5 1.3 1.3 39.4 5.8

12 Khammuane 7.3 23.1 6.3 1.5 1.6 60.2 0.0

13 Savannakhet 64.0 5.5 3.0 1.3 13.8 12.4 0.0

14 Saravane 51.6 13.6 0.0 0.5 19.9 14.4 0.0

15 Sekong 14.3 26.3 2.0 2.6 46.5 3.8 4.6

16 Champasack 28.5 15.2 7.5 8.0 37.1 3.7 0.0

17 Attapeu 34.0 10.8 2.5 2.3 31.2 3.9 15.3

18 Xaysomboon 83.5 0.0 1.2 0.0 1.9 12.7 0.8

Geographic area

Urban 47.7 15.2 7.1 1.8 6.0 17.6 4.6

Rural 47.8 6.1 3.8 1.8 19.3 17.6 3.5

Lao PDR 47.8 8.6 4.7 1.8 15.7 17.6 3.8

30

Age structure

Lao PDR has a young population, where more than 30 per cent of the population was less

than 15 years of age and only 5 per cent of the population was older than 65 years of age.

33.8 per cent of the population in the rural areas was aged less than 15 years compared to

24.5 per cent in the urban areas.

Table 22. Percentage distribution of the total population (0+), by age-group, sex and geographic area

Age-group Total Urban Rural

Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female

0-4 10.5 10.7 10.4 8.1 8.8 7.5 11.4 11.4 11.5

5-9 9.9 10.0 9.7 7.7 7.2 8.2 10.7 11.0 10.3

10-14 10.8 11.0 10.6 8.7 9.2 8.3 11.5 11.7 11.4

15-19 10.6 10.7 10.4 9.5 9.4 9.6 10.9 11.1 10.8

20-24 8.0 7.6 8.4 8.2 7.9 8.5 7.9 7.6 8.3

25-29 8.5 8.3 8.6 8.8 8.7 8.9 8.3 8.2 8.4

30-34 7.5 7.1 7.8 8.6 7.7 9.5 7.0 6.9 7.2

35-39 7.2 7.3 7.0 8.0 8.1 7.9 6.8 7.1 6.6

40-44 5.8 6.0 5.7 6.5 6.7 6.4 5.6 5.7 5.4

45-49 5.5 5.4 5.6 6.6 6.9 6.3 5.1 4.9 5.3

50-54 4.4 4.3 4.6 5.7 5.5 5.9 4.0 3.8 4.1

55-59 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.8 5.2 4.4 3.7 3.7 3.8

60-64 2.8 2.9 2.6 3.4 3.5 3.2 2.5 2.7 2.4

65+ 4.6 4.6 4.7 5.3 5.3 5.3 4.4 4.3 4.5

Total (0+) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

31

Dependency ratios

The dependency ratio was 55.9 per cent for the whole country. This ratio was the highest in

the rural areas (61.9 per cent), and urban areas (43.1 per cent). The dependency ratio was

notably high in Sekong (89.7 per cent) and Saravane (86.5 per cent), mainly because of the

large proportion of those aged less than 15 years of age.

Table 23. Distribution of dependency ratios, by provinces and geographic area


DPR 0-14 15-64 65 + DPR 0-14 15-64 65 + DPR 0-14 15-64 65 +

1 Vientiane Capital 42.1 24.5 70.4 5.1 40.3 23.3 71.3 5.4 45.9 27.1 68.5 4.4

2 Phongsaly 66.7 35.2 60.0 4.8 55.3 30.0 64.4 5.6 71.4 37.2 58.3 4.5

3 Luangnamtha 56.2 32.1 64.0 3.9 37.8 24.0 72.6 3.4 66.8 35.9 60.0 4.2

4 Oudomxay 62.9 34.8 61.4 3.8 49.0 27.2 67.1 5.6 68.3 37.4 59.4 3.2

5 Bokeo 56.0 32.1 64.1 3.8 39.1 22.7 71.9 5.4 62.2 35.1 61.6 3.3

6 Luangprabang 65.4 35.4 60.5 4.1 44.2 25.2 69.3 5.4 74.6 39.1 57.3 3.6

7 Huaphanh 67.3 37.2 59.8 3.0 45.3 26.7 68.8 4.5 72.6 39.3 57.9 2.7

8 Xayabury 47.4 26.7 67.8 5.5 43.2 24.3 69.8 5.9 49.3 27.7 67.0 5.3

9 Xiengkhuang 59.4 33.6 62.7 3.7 52.5 32.9 65.6 1.5 62.0 33.8 61.7 4.4

10 Vientiane 47.8 27.7 67.7 4.7 44.8 23.9 69.1 7.1 48.7 28.8 67.2 3.9

11 Borikhamxay 48.3 27.1 67.4 5.5 40.8 23.7 71.0 5.3 58.0 31.1 63.3 5.7

12 Khammuane 51.2 29.2 66.1 4.6 39.7 23.2 71.6 5.2 55.8 31.4 64.2 4.4

13 Savannakhet 56.9 31.9 63.7 4.4 50.8 27.4 66.3 6.3 57.7 32.4 63.4 4.2

14 Saravane 86.5 42.1 53.6 4.3 43.2 26.2 69.8 4.0 92.3 43.6 52.0 4.4

15 Sekong 89.7 43.2 52.7 4.1 61.2 34.2 62.0 3.8 96.1 44.9 51.0 4.1

16 Champasack 49.2 26.8 67.0 6.2 39.6 23.9 71.6 4.5 54.3 28.2 64.8 7.0

17 Attapeu 67.8 35.6 59.6 4.8 54.5 29.5 64.7 5.7 72.8 37.7 57.9 4.5

18 Xaysomboon 66.2 36.6 60.2 3.2 56.3 32.0 64.0 4.0 69.5 38.1 59.0 2.9

Lao PDR 55.9 31.2 64.2 4.6 43.1 24.9 69.9 5.2 61.9 33.8 61.8 4.4

32

Educational profile of the population

Around one-third of the working age population had completed primary school and another

one-third had completed secondary school. There was little gender difference in educational

attainment. The urban population is much better educated than the rural working age

population. 66.3 per cent of the urban population had completed primary school and above,

while this proportion was less than 40 per cent in the rural areas.

Table 24. Percentage Distribution of working-age population, by educational attainment, sex and geographic area, 2017

Level Total Urban Rural


Not enrolled 20.0 13.1 26.5 9.5 5.7 13.1 24.9 16.6 33.0



Lower secondary 12.9 14.5 11.3 17.7 19.4 16.1 10.7 12.3 9.0

Upper Secondary 4.4 5.0 3.8 7.0 7.7 6.4 3.1 3.7 2.5



Vocational high 3.8 4.2 3.5 7.8 8.5 7.2 2.0 2.3 1.7


Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

33

Chapter IV: Economic activity

Chapter IV looks at economic activity, beginning with the labor force (4.1), labor force by

educational attainment (Section 4.2), labor force participation (Section 4.3), labor force

participation rate by educational attained (Section 4.4), and population outside labor force

(Section 4.5).

Labor force

Labor force refer to persons 15 years or older who contribute or are available to contribute to production of goods and service in the country. They are either employed or unemployed during the refer week prior to the survey.

Table 25 and 26 present number and percentage distribution of labor force, geographic area and education attained

Table 25. Percentage distribution of labor force by province, geographic area and sex

Code Provinces Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female


2 Phongsaly 2.6 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.7 2.7 2.7

3 Luangnamtha 2.7 2.7 2.7 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.5 2.5

4 Oudomxay 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.8 4.8 4.8

5 Bokeo 2.7 2.9 2.6 2.3 2.4 2.3 2.9 3.2 2.7

6 Luangprabang 6.2 6.4 6.1 5.9 6.1 5.8 6.4 6.5 6.2

7 Huaphanh 4.1 4.1 4.1 2.5 2.6 2.4 4.8 4.8 4.8

8 Xayabury 6.4 6.5 6.2 6.2 6.4 6.0 6.4 6.6 6.3

9 Xiengkhuang 3.7 3.6 3.7 2.9 3.0 2.9 4.0 4.0 4.1

10 Vientiane 6.8 6.8 6.8 5.1 4.9 5.4 7.6 7.7 7.4

11 Borikhamxay 4.6 4.5 4.6 8.0 7.7 8.2 2.9 3.0 2.9

12 Khammuane 6.1 6 6.3 5.4 5.4 5.4 6.5 6.3 6.7

13 Savannakhet 14.6 14.9 14.3 5.4 5.5 5.2 18.9 19.3 18.6

14 Saravane 5.1 5.1 5.1 1.8 1.9 1.7 6.6 6.6 6.7

15 Sekong 1.5 1.4 1.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.7 1.8

16 Champasack 11.2 11.0 11.5 11.7 11.4 12.0 11.0 10.8 11.2

17 Attapeu 2.0 2.0 2.1 1.7 1.7 1.8 2.2 2.1 2.2

18 Xaysomboon 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.5 1.4

Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Labor force by educational attainment

A large majority of the labor force had lower secondary education or less, constituting

around 77 percent of the labor force. At the same time, compared to the estimate of labor

force by education in 2010, more people had completed vocational and higher education.

34

There was little difference in this distribution between men and women, though female

labor force was somewhat less educated than men. In both urban and rural areas, the

biggest segment of the labor force had not completed primary school at 27.9 per cent and

54.5 per cent of the total urban and rural labor force, respectively. Compared to the rural

areas, the urban labor force was more likely to have completed the high level vocational and

tertiary education.

Table 26. Percentage distribution of labor force by education attained, geographic area and sex

Education attained

Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Not enrolled 9.3 6.5 12.7 4.3 3.0 5.7 13.0 8.9 18.1

Less than primary 33.9 32.8 35.3 23.6 21.0 26.6 41.5 41.0 42.2 Primary completed 20.4 21.6 18.9 20.3 20.5 20.1 20.4 22.4 17.9 Lower secondary 13.4 14.5 12.3 16.6 17.6 15.4 11.1 12.2 9.8 Upper Secondary 3.5 3.8 3.1 4.1 4.6 3.5 3.0 3.2 2.8


Vocational middle 4.9 5.2 4.6 6.9 7.1 6.6 3.5 3.8 3.0 Vocational high 6.9 7.2 6.6 10.9 11.2 10.5 4.0 4.4 3.6


Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

35

Labor force participation

“Labor force participation rate” is calculated by expressing the number of persons in the labor force as a percentage of the working-age population. The labor force is the sum of the number of persons employed and the number of persons unemployed.

The labor force participation rate indicator plays a central role in the study of the factors that determine the size and composition of a country’s human resources and in making projections of the future supply of labor. The information is also used to formulate employment policies, to determine training needs and to calculate the expected working lives of the male and female populations and the rates of accession to, and retirement from, economic activity, crucial information for the financial planning of social security systems.

Figure 4 show that labor force participant rate for the total working age population was 40.8 per cent. This rate is much lower than the rate estimated in 2010 which stood at 77.7 per cent. It is because the current report uses the new concept of statistics of work, employment and labor underutilization that was adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labor Statisticians (ICLS) in 20131. The important difference from the previous definition is that those who worked solely or mainly for own consumption are no longer considered to be in employment but to be outside the labor force2. Thus, an estimate of labor force participation rate using the new concept presents a significant break from the previous estimates in an agrarian economy with considerable proportion of the population in non-market, subsistence activities.

Men are much more likely to participate in the labor force than women. The labor force participation rate for men was 45.2 per cent compared to 36.5 per cent for women. The gap in labor force participation rate between men and women are larger for older cohorts aged 25 years and above, particularly for those aged 50 to 64 years old. Women start to drop out of the labor force from around the age of 50, while men start to drop out of the labor force at an older age of from around 55.

The urban labor force participation rate at 53.8 per cent was almost 20 percentage points higher than the rural rates. The labor force participation rate in the urban areas reaches a peak of 72.1 per cent for those aged 35 to 39 years old. In contrast, the peak rate of participation for the rural population was much lower at 45.2 per cent and for a younger cohort aged 30 to 34 years old. This can be partly reflecting a lack of opportunities for employment in the rural areas.

1 Web reference. The new Resolution of the 19th ICLS has been piloted in XX countries thus far. 2 If a definition that is similar to the one used in the previous survey is used with the 2017 dataset, the labour force participation rate can be estimated to be around 82 per cent.

36

Figure 4. labor force participation rate by sext and age group

19.3

40.3

51

53.8

53.5

53.3

49.1

44.1

38.7

28.8

11.5

28.4

45.4

40.8

19.3

43.7

54

59.4

59

57.5

55.2

54.1

45.6

37

16.4

29.5

51

45.2

19.3

37.3

48.2

48.8

47.8

49

43.3

35

31.8

19.8

7

27.3

40

36.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65+

Youth (15-24)

Adult (25+)

Total (15+)

Females Males Total

37

The labor force participation rate was different across provinces, ranging from the low of 16.5 per cent Savannakhet to the high of 68.7 per cent in Xayabury. Women were notably less likely to take part in the labor force in Bokeo, Luangnamtha and Attapeu. The gap in participation between the urban and the rural areas was also considerable in some provinces.

Table 27. Percentage distribution of labor force participation rate, by province, sex and geographic area


Both sex



Male Female


2 Phongsaly 50.8 55.7 45.8 58.9 63.4 54.2 47.4 52.4 42.4

3 Luangnamtha 42.3 50.4 34.6 55.7 59.6 52.1 34.7 45.2 24.5

4 Oudomxay 41.0 48.0 34.3 53.9 62.6 45.8 35.9 42.3 29.6

5 Bokeo 37.7 48.3 26.0 47.7 56.9 38.9 33.9 45.4 20.6

6 Luangprabang 36.6 41.2 32.1 46.5 48.0 45.2 32.3 38.3 26.2

7 Huaphanh 36.8 38.4 35.2 50.7 53.0 48.4 33.3 34.6 32.1

8 Xayabury 68.7 73.7 63.6 68.1 74.7 61.5 68.9 73.3 64.5

9 Xiengkhuang 58.5 60.0 57.0 83.5 83.7 83.2 49.8 51.7 48.0

10 Vientiane 39.6 42.7 36.5 57.5 64.3 51.6 33.8 36.4 31.3

11 Borikhamxay 33.0 36.0 30.2 30.3 33.8 27.3 36.4 38.7 34.0

12 Khammuane 30.0 33.0 27.3 42.3 42.6 42.0 25.2 29.2 21.5

13 Savannakhet 16.5 19.2 13.7 26.6 33.8 19.4 15.1 17.3 12.9

14 Saravane 23.0 25.2 20.9 58.7 58.2 59.3 18.4 20.8 16.1

15 Sekong 18.5 21.6 15.7 40.0 46.0 34.8 13.8 16.5 11.4

16 Champasack 47.1 52.4 42.2 51.2 55.6 47.3 45.0 50.8 39.6

17 Attapeu 37.5 44.7 30.9 51.1 51.3 51.0 32.4 42.3 23.1

18 Xaysomboun 36.9 42.1 31.7 53.6 60.5 47.0 31.4 36.2 26.3

Lao PDR 40.8 45.2 36.5 53.8 58.6 49.3 34.6 39.0 30.4

Labor force participation rate by educational attainment

Having higher education is clearly associated with higher participation in the labor force. 77.2 per cent of the working age population with university education and above took part in the labor force compared to only 41.1 per cent for those with less than primary education. A jump in participation rate occurs for those with vocational and higher level of education. For those with primary or lower secondary education, the participation rate was similar to those with less than primary education, at 45.5 and 42.5 per cent, respectively. The participation rate of those with upper secondary education was notably lower than that of lower secondary education at 32.7 per cent. This may reflect the situation where some upper secondary school graduates stayed on in education or training and remained outside the labor force.

Women participated less than men for almost all educational levels, and the difference was biggest between men and women with the first level of vocational education (13.0 percentage points).

38

The rural population with primary education or less was much less likely to be in the labor force than their urban counterpart, with a difference of around 15 percentage points. While the urban-rural gap was narrower for those with upper secondary or vocational education, the gap widens to 12.2 percentage points for those with tertiary education. This suggests a lack of employment opportunities for highly educated persons in the rural areas.

Table 28. Percentage distribution of labor force participation rate, by educational attainment, sex and geographic area



Not enrolled 19.0 22.3 17.5 24.1 30.2 21.6 18.1 21.0 16.7



Lower secondary 42.5 44.9 39.5 50.5 53.5 47.2 36.1 38.7 32.8

Upper Secondary 32.7 34.7 30.1 31.4 35.4 26.9 34.0 34.0 34.0



Vocational high 73.6 76.8 69.9 74.8 77.5 72.0 71.3 75.6 65.7


Lao PDR 40.8 45.2 36.5 53.8 58.6 49.3 34.6 39 30.4

39

Population outside the labor force

Outside labor force refers to economically inactive population, such as full-time students, the retired elderly and the incapacitated.

Populations outside labor force covered 59.2 percent. There was more female (63.5 percent) than male (54.8 percent). Savannakhet had highest population outside labor force (83.5 percent) followed by Sekong province (81.5 percent). The lower number of population outside labor force was found in Xayabouly (31.3 percent).

Table 29. Percentage distribution of outside labor force by province, geographic area and sex

Code Provinces Total Urban Rural

Both sex


Male female Both sex

Male female

Lao PDR 59.2 54.8 63.5 46.2 41.4 50.7 65.4 61 69.6


2 Phongsaly 49.2 44.3 54.2 41.1 36.6 45.8 52.6 47.6 57.6

3 Luangnamtha 57.7 49.6 65.4 44.3 40.4 47.9 65.3 54.8 75.5

4 Oudomxay 59.0 52.0 65.7 46.1 37.4 54.2 64.1 57.7 70.4

5 Bokeo 62.3 51.7 74.0 52.3 43.1 61.1 66.1 54.6 79.4

6 Luangprabang 63.4 58.8 67.9 53.5 52.0 54.8 67.7 61.7 73.8

7 Huaphanh 63.2 61.6 64.8 49.3 47.0 51.6 66.7 65.4 67.9

8 Xayabury 31.3 26.3 36.4 31.9 25.3 38.5 31.1 26.7 35.5

9 Xiengkhuang 41.5 40.0 43.0 16.5 16.3 16.8 50.2 48.3 52.0

10 Vientiane 60.4 57.3 63.5 42.5 35.7 48.4 66.2 63.6 68.7

11 Borikhamxay 67.0 64.0 69.8 69.7 66.2 72.7 63.6 61.3 66.0

12 Khammuane 70.0 67.0 72.7 57.7 57.4 58.0 74.8 70.8 78.5

13 Savannakhet 83.5 80.8 86.3 73.4 66.2 80.6 84.9 82.7 87.1

14 Saravane 77.0 74.8 79.1 41.3 41.8 40.7 81.6 79.2 83.9

15 Sekong 81.5 78.4 84.3 60.0 54.0 65.2 86.2 83.5 88.6

16 Champasack 52.9 47.6 57.8 48.8 44.4 52.7 55.0 49.2 60.4

17 Attapeu 62.5 55.3 69.1 48.9 48.7 49.0 67.6 57.7 76.9

18 Xaysomboon 63.1 57.9 68.3 46.4 39.5 53.0 68.6 63.8 73.7

40

For those who were outside the labor force, one of the most frequently reported reasons was because of the needs or the views by other family members to stay home (28.8 per cent). Family responsibilities was cited as the second most important reason for staying outside the labor force (18.4 per cent), followed by those who reported being in studies, training or education (17.1 per cent).

Women were more likely to be outside the labor force for family related reasons than men. For men, studying was the second most important reasons for being outside the labor force (20.9 per cent).

In urban areas, studying was the most important reasons cited for being outside the labor force (26.4 per cent), while in the rural areas, the main reasons were family-related.

Table 30. Percentage distribution of the population outside the labor force by reason, sex and geographic area

Category Total Urban Rural


In studies, training, education

17.1 20.9 14.2 26.4 31.9 22.4 13.8 17.2 11.2

Family responsibilities 18.4 15.3 20.7 16.3 12.6 19.0 19.1 16.3 21.4

Illness, injury 4.0 4.1 3.9 4.1 4.1 4.1 3.9 4.0 3.9

Pensioner 1.5 2.1 1.1 3.0 4.4 1.9 1.0 1.3 0.8

Voluntary inactive 14.3 15.6 13.3 11.9 14.7 10.0 15.2 15.9 14.6

Family member says to stay home

28.8 26.7 30.4 22.5 18.7 25.3 31.0 29.4 32.2

Other 15.9 15.3 16.3 15.8 13.7 17.3 15.9 15.9 16.0

Total inactive 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

41

Chapter V: Employment

Chapter V covers the employed population and provides overview of the employed population by age-group and province (Section 5.1), employed population by education (Section 5.2), status in employment (Section 5.3), employment by industry (Section 5.4), employment by occupation (Section 5.5), institutional employment (Section 5.6), and informal employment (Section 5.7). Questions on economic activity were asked to all those aged 14+, however, for the purposes of this report only those aged 15+ are included.

Employed population

Employed population refer to those of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit.

A total of 1.8 million persons were in employment, of which 939 thousand were men and

818 were women. Women in employment were somewhat younger than men. 18.6 per cent

of women in employment were 15 to 24 years old against 15.5 per cent for men. More

people were employed in the rural areas (979 thousand) than in the urban areas (779

thousand). Youth accounted for a bigger proportion of employment in the rural areas at

20.1 per cent than in the urban areas at 13.1 per cent.

42

Table 31. Number and percentage distribution of employed population, by age-group, sex and geographic area, (1,000)

Age-group

Total Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

15-19 117 57 60 33 15 18 84 42 42

20-24 181 88 93 69 33 35 112 55 57

25-29 265 134 131 112 55 57 153 80 74

30-34 256 130 126 117 55 62 140 75 64

35-39 242 133 109 114 58 56 128 75 53

40-44 200 108 92 93 49 44 107 59 48

45-49 175 95 80 89 49 40 86 46 40

50-54 128 73 55 64 34 30 64 38 26

55-59 104 61 44 4358 28 20 56 32 24

60-64 53 35 18 24 16 8 29 19 10

65+ 36 25 12 16 11 4 20 13 7

Youth (15-24) 298 146 152 102 48 53 196 97 99

Adult (25+) 1,460 794 666 677 356 320 782 437 345

Total (15+) 1,758 939 818 779 405 374 979 570 444

Percent (%)

15-19 6.7 6.7 6.1 7.3 4.2 3.7 4.8 6.7 6.7

20-24 10.3 10.3 9.4 11.3 8.8 8.2 9.5 10.3 10.3

25-29 15.1 15.1 14.3 16 14.4 13.5 15.3 15.1 15.1

30-34 14.6 14.6 13.8 15.4 15 13.5 16.6 14.6 14.6

35-39 13.8 13.8 14.2 13.3 14.6 14.3 14.9 13.8 13.8

40-44 11.4 11.4 11.5 11.2 12 12.2 11.7 11.4 11.4

45-49 10.0 10.0 10.1 9.8 11.4 12.2 10.6 10.0 10.0

50-54 7.3 7.3 7.8 6.7 8.2 8.5 7.8 7.3 7.3

55-59 5.9 5.9 6.5 5.3 6.2 7.0 5.3 5.9 5.9

60-64 3.0 3.0 3.7 2.2 3.1 4.0 2.2 3.0 3.0

65+ 2.1 2.1 2.6 1.4 2.1 2.8 1.2 2.1 2.1

Youth (15-24) 17.0 17.0 15.5 18.6 13.1 11.9 14.3 17.0 17.0

Adult (25+) 83.0 83.0 84.5 81.4 86.9 88.1 85.7 83.0 83.0

Total (15+) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

43

The employed population was highly concentrated in Vientiane Capital (23.0 per cent) even

though Vientiane Capital only had 14.0 per cent of the working age population (table 5). The

next biggest concentration of employment can be found in Champasack (11.6 per cent) and

in Xayabury (11.5 per cent). Urban employment was highly concentrated in Vientiane

Capital (36.0 per cent) while the biggest proportion of rural employment was found in

Xayabury (14.3 per cent).

Table 32. Percentage distribution of the employed population, by province, sex and geographic area



Vientiane Capital 23.0 22.5 23.6 36.0 36.3 35.7 12.7 12.1 13.3

Phongsaly 3.5 3.5 3.4 2.7 2.8 2.5 4.1 4.0 4.1

Luangnamtha 2.9 3.1 2.7 3.1 3.1 3.2 2.7 3.1 2.2

Oudomxay 4.5 4.7 4.2 3.9 4.0 3.7 5.0 5.2 4.7

Bokeo 1.9 2.3 1.5 2.0 2.2 1.8 1.9 2.4 1.3

Luangprabang 5.8 6.2 5.4 5.0 5.1 5.0 6.4 7.0 5.8

Huaphanh 3.7 3.5 3.9 2.3 2.2 2.4 4.8 4.5 5.1

Xayabury 11.5 11.6 11.4 7.9 8.4 7.4 14.3 14.0 14.7

Xiengkhuang 5.7 5.3 6.1 4.7 4.5 5.0 6.4 5.9 7.1

Vientiane 6.8 6.7 6.8 5.6 5.5 5.6 7.7 7.6 7.8

Borikhamxay 3.9 3.8 4.1 4.6 4.5 4.7 3.4 3.3 3.5

Khammuane 4.4 4.2 4.6 4.1 3.7 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.7

Savannakhet 4.5 4.9 3.9 2.3 2.6 2.0 6.2 6.7 5.6

Saravane 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.1 1.9 2.2 3.8 3.7 3.8

Sekong 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.7

Champasack 11.6 11.1 12.2 10.7 10.3 11.2 12.3 11.6 13.0

Attapeu 1.7 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.3 1.8 1.9 2.2 1.5

Xaysomboun 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.7 1.2 1.3 1.0

Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

44

Employed population by education

Table 33 presents the percentage distribution of population employed by education

attainment, sex and geographic area.

More than one-third of the employed population had not completed primary education (42.3 per cent). 34.2 per cent of the employed population had completed primary or lower secondary education. Together, employed population with less than lower secondary education accounted for almost three-quarter of employment.

Men in employment were more likely to have completed a somewhat higher level of education than women. The urban workers were also better educated than their rural counterpart. In the urban areas, the share of employed persons with high level vocational or university education accounted for a high share of 22.0 per cent of employment which is notably higher than 6.1 per cent in the rural areas.

Table 33. Percentage distribution Employment by educational attainment, sex and geographic area


Both sex



Male Female

Not enrolled 9.3 6.3 12.7 4.2 2.7 5.8 13.4 9.1 18.6



Lower secondary 13.8 14.9 12.6 16.6 17.8 15.4 11.6 12.7 10.3

Upper Secondary 3.2 3.4 3.0 3.7 4.1 3.3 2.8 2.9 2.7



Vocational high 7.1 7.4 6.7 10.7 11.1 10.4 4.1 4.6 3.6


Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

45

Status in employment

Status of employment refer to the employment by wage employees, employers, Own-account workers and Contributing family workers

1. Wage and salaried employees: A person who works in government department, private business enterprises or organizations, including family business, and receives regular pay;

2. Employers: A person who runs a business on his own or in partnership and engages at least one paid employee on a continuous basis in operating the business;

3. Own account workers: A person who runs a business on his own or in partnership but does not engages any paid employee;

4. Contributing family workers: A person who works in his/her family business without receiving any regular pay

The contributing family workers accounted for the biggest share of employment at 38.3 per cent, followed by employees (32.4 per cent) and own-account workers (28.2 per cent). Compared to 2010 when the share of employees was estimated to be 15.6 per cent, this represents a two-fold increase in the incidence of employees. Such change reflects the changes in the definition of employment based on the 19th ICLS Resolution that focuses on those who earn an income.

Women were more likely to be a contributing family worker (45.6 per cent) than men, while men were more likely to be an employee (37.3 per cent).

Being an employee was the dominant status in employment in the urban areas at 42.1 per cent, while contributing family worker constituted the dominant status in employment in the rural areas at 48.0 per cent. At the same time, even in the rural areas, employees accounted for a quarter of rural employment.

Figure 5. Percentage of employed population by status in employment 2017 and 2010

32.4

1.1

28.2

38.3

15.7

0.5

49.0

34.8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Employees Employers Own-account workers Contributing familyworkers

Status in employment 2017 and 2010

2017 2010

46

Table 34 presents survey finding on employment by status of employment, province, geographic area, sex, educational attained and age group. The status in employment describes the type of economic risk and authority which workers have in their jobs, as reflected in their explicit or implicit contract of employment.

Table 34. Percentage distribution of employment by status of employment, province, geographic area and sex

Code Provinces Employed

person

status in employment

Wage employees

Employers Own-

account workers

Contributing family

workers Total

Lao PDR 1,757,733 32.4 1.1 28.2 38.3 100.0

01 Vientiane Capital 404,556 45.3 0.5 37.3 16.9 100.0

02 Phongsaly 60,697 29.5 0.0 21.0 49.5 100.0

03 Luangnamtha 50,915 38.9 2.9 19.5 38.7 100.0

04 Oudomxay 78,939 27.4 1.9 11.2 59.4 100.0

05 Bokeo 34,201 45.8 4.0 34.4 15.8 100.0

06 Luangprabang 102,225 21.8 1.5 58.5 18.2 100.0

07 Huaphanh 64,512 20.3 0.5 15.3 63.9 100.0

08 Xayabury 202,099 18.0 0.9 18.9 62.3 100.0

09 Xiengkhuang 99,722 21.0 1.9 38.6 38.4 100.0

10 Vientiane 118,662 34.0 0.2 37.5 28.3 100.0

11 Borikhamxay 69,204 32.4 1.6 23.2 42.9 100.0

12 Khammuane 76,913 34.8 2.1 30.0 33.1 100.0

13 Savannakhet 78,275 51.7 0.2 24.5 23.6 100.0

14 Saravane 52,895 32.3 2.2 16.3 49.3 100.0

15 Sekong 11,974 36.4 2.2 44.6 16.7 100.0

16 Champasack 203,479 24.4 1.0 14.9 59.7 100.0

17 Attapeu 30,481 38.3 3.1 15.6 43.1 100.0

18 Xaysomboon 17,984 34.6 1.0 16.0 48.4 100.0

Geographic area Urban 779,066 42.1 1.1 30.7 26.1 100.0

Rural 978,666 24.7 1.2 26.1 48.0 100.0

Sex Male 939,267 37.3 1.4 29.3 31.9 100.0

Female 818,465 26.8 0.8 26.9 45.6 100.0

Educational attainment

Not enrolled 163,536 9.1 1.1 28.5 61.2 100.0

Less than primary 579,224 15.9 1.2 32.6 50.3 100.0

Primary completed 358,900 23.8 1.4 34.5 40.3 100.0

Lower secondary 242,734 28.1 1.0 35.8 35.2 100.0

Upper Secondary 56,500 38.3 1.3 22.5 37.8 100.0

Vocational first 32,796 67.3 0.7 15.2 16.9 100.0

Vocational middle 92,346 75.3 0.4 15.0 9.3 100.0

Vocational high 124,216 85.0 0.6 9.0 5.4 100.0

University and upper 107,481 84.2 1.0 6.0 8.7 100.0

47

Employment by industry

Refer to employment comprises all persons of working age who during a specified brief period, were in the following categories: agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, Manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, construction, Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities, information and communication, financial and insurance activities, real estate activities, Professional, scientific and technical activities, administrative and support service activities, public administration and defense; compulsory social security, education, Human health and social work activities, arts, entertainment and recreation, other service activities, activities of households as employers, and activities for own use production, and activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies.

More than half a million persons worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing (551 thousand),

followed by wholesale and retail trade (329 thousand) and public administration and

defense (156 thousand). Agricultural employment mostly took place in the rural areas (433

thousand) while there was a concentration of some industries in the urban areas, such as

information and communication (8 thousand), financial and insurance activities (10

thousand) and professional, scientific and technical activities (3 thousand).

More than one-third of employed men and women worked in agriculture. Beside

agriculture, employed women were more likely to be in wholesale and retail trade (26.4 per

cent) and in manufacturing (11.5 per cent). For employed men, they were more likely to be

in wholesale and retail trade (17.1 per cent) and in public administration and defense (14.2

per cent).

Agriculture-related activities were the most important source of employment in the rural

areas (50.6 per cent). In the urban areas, wholesale and retail trade was the most important

source of employment (25.4 per cent).

48

Table 35. Number and percentage distribution of employment, by industry, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Industry Total Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Agriculture, forestry and fishing 551 287 264 118 60 58 433 227 206

Mining and quarrying 8 7 1 4 4 1 4 3 1

Manufacturing 140 58 82 62 24 38 78 34 44

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 10 9 2 7 6 1 3 2 0

Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities

6 5 1 4 3 1 2 2 0

Construction 83 75 8 43 38 5 40 37 3

Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

329 141 188 174 68 105 155 73 82

Transportation and storage 39 35 4 26 23 3 13 13 1

Accommodation and food service activities 41 15 25 26 9 17 14 6 8

Information and communication 8 5 4 8 4 4 0 0 0

Financial and insurance activities 11 4 7 10 3 6 1 0 1

Real estate activities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Professional, scientific and technical activities 4 2 2 3 2 1 1 0 0

Administrative and support service activities 11 4 6 6 3 4 4 1 3

Public administration and defence, compulsory social security 156 117 39 110 78 32 46 40 7

Education 85 41 43 44 20 24 41 22 19

Human health and social work activities 22 7 15 15 5 10 8 2 5

Arts, entertainment and recreation 9 3 6 6 2 4 3 1 2

Other service activities 24 10 14 17 7 10 8 3 5

Activities of households as employers, and activities for own use 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

Total (15+) 1,758 939 818 718 369 349 1,039 570 469

49

Percent (%)

Agriculture, forestry and fishing 35.8 34.7 37.1 17.3 16.8 17.8 50.6 48.5 53.2

Mining and quarrying 0.5 0.9 0.2 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.2

Manufacturing 9.1 7.0 11.5 9.0 6.7 11.6 9.1 7.2 11.4

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 0.7 1.0 0.2 1.1 1.7 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.1

Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities

0.4 0.6 0.2 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.1

Construction 5.4 9.1 1.1 6.3 10.5 1.6 4.7 7.9 0.8

Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

21.4 17.1 26.4 25.4 19.0 32.5 18.2 15.6 21.3

Transportation and storage 2.5 4.3 0.6 3.8 6.3 1.0 1.5 2.7 0.2

Accommodation and food service activities 2.6 1.9 3.6 3.8 2.6 5.2 1.7 1.3 2.2

Information and communication 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Financial and insurance activities 0.7 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.9 1.9 0.1 0.0 0.2

Real estate activities 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0

Professional, scientific and technical activities 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.0

Administrative and support service activities 0.7 0.5 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.1 0.5 0.3 0.7

Public administration and defence, compulsory social security 10.2 14.2 5.5 16.1 21.6 10.0 5.4 8.5 1.7

Education 5.5 5.0 6.1 6.5 5.5 7.5 4.7 4.6 4.9

Human health and social work activities 1.5 0.9 2.1 2.1 1.3 3.1 0.9 0.5 1.4

Arts, entertainment and recreation 0.6 0.4 0.9 0.9 0.5 1.4 0.4 0.3 0.5

Other service activities 1.6 1.2 2.0 2.5 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.7 1.2

Activities of households as employers, and activities for own use 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1

Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total (15+) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

50

Employment by occupation

Employment comprises all persons of working age who during a specified brief period, were in the following categories: managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, service and sales workers, skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers, craft and related trades workers, Plant and machine operators, and assemblers, and Elementary occupations.

Occupational statistics are used for research on labor market topics ranging from occupational safety and health to labor market segmentation. Occupational analyses also inform economic and labor policies in areas such as educational planning, migration and employment services. Occupational information is particularly important for the identification of changes in skill levels in the labor force.

Table 36 shows that skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers constituted the biggest segment of employment (697 thousand), with a clear concentration of workers in the rural areas. Skilled agricultural workers in the rural areas were 4 times that in the urban areas. Interestingly, 112 thousand women were managers, against 78 thousand male managers. There were also more female professionals than the male professionals: 76 thousand women against 62 thousand men.

In line with the above numbers, the share of skilled agricultural workers in total male and female employment stood around 41 per cent. Employed women were more likely to be in management and professional occupations than men. 13.9 per cent of employed women were managers against 8.7 per cent for employed men. 9.5 per cent of employed women were professionals against 7.0 per cent for employed men. Women were also more likely to be a service and sales workers (14.4 per cent) than men (7.2 per cent).

51

Table 36. Number and percentage distribution of employment, by occupational group, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Occupation Total Urban Rural


Managers 189 78 112 116 47 69 73 30 43

Professionals 138 62 76 87 36 51 51 26 26

Technicians and Associate Professionals 46 29 17 37 22 15 9 7 2

Clerical Support Workers 34 21 13 26 16 10 8 5 3

Services and Sales Workers 180 64 116 118 39 79 62 25 37

Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Workers 697 367 329 141 73 68 556 294 262

Craft and Related Trades Workers 198 117 81 99 61 38 99 56 42

Plant and Machine Operators and Assemblers 77 64 13 43 37 5 35 27 8

Elementary occupations 135 89 47 75 45 30 60 43 17

Total (15+) 1,758 939 818 779 405 374 979 535 444

Percent (%)

Managers 11.2 8.7 13.9 15.7 12.5 19.0 7.7 5.9 9.7

Professionals 8.2 7.0 9.5 11.7 9.6 13.9 5.4 5.0 5.8

Technicians and Associate Professionals 2.7 3.3 2.1 5.0 5.9 4.0 1.0 1.4 0.5

Clerical Support Workers 2.0 2.3 1.6 3.5 4.3 2.7 0.8 0.9 0.7

Services and Sales Workers 10.6 7.2 14.4 15.9 10.4 21.7 6.5 4.9 8.4

Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Workers 41.1 41.2 41.0 18.9 19.3 18.6 58.3 57.3 59.6

Craft and Related Trades Workers 11.7 13.2 10.0 13.4 16.2 10.5 10.4 11.0 9.7

Plant and Machine Operators and Assemblers 4.6 7.2 1.7 5.8 9.9 1.4 3.6 5.2 1.9

Elementary occupations 8.0 10.0 5.8 10.2 12.0 8.2 6.3 8.4 3.8

Total (15+) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

52

Institutional of employment

Employment comprises all persons of working age who during a specified brief period, were

in households, formal and informal sectors.

Figure show that by institutional sector of work, 35.2 per cent of total employment was in

the informal sector and 38.3 per cent in households. The formal sector accounted for 26.5

per cent of total employment.

Figure 6. Percentage distribution by employment by institutional sector

26.5

35.2

38.3

Formal sector Informal sector Households

53

Table 37. Percentage distribution employment by institutional sector, provinces, and geographic area

Code Province

Employed person

Lao PDR Urban Rural

(1,000) Formal sector

Informal sector Households

Formal sector


Formal sector


01 Vientiane Capital 405 38.7 44.8 16.5 41.3 47.6 11.1 32.9 38.5 28.6

02 Phongsaly 61 13.0 29.0 58.0 32.2 15.7 52.1 2.9 36.0 61.1

03 Luangnamtha 51 28.3 26.4 45.2 43.6 23.5 32.9 14.3 29.1 56.5

04 Oudomxay 79 21.9 50.8 27.3 36.7 36.5 26.8 12.8 59.6 27.6

05 Bokeo 34 34.4 29.2 36.5 51.6 31.5 16.9 20.1 27.2 52.7

06 Luangprabang 102 13.6 37.9 48.5 17.3 52.6 30.1 11.2 28.8 60.0

07 Huaphanh 65 17.0 13.0 70.1 47.5 19.0 33.6 5.4 10.7 83.9

08 Xayabury 202 13.3 38.8 47.8 27.0 39.0 34.1 7.3 38.8 53.9

09 Xiengkhuang 100 20.3 38.7 41.0 34.6 38.2 27.2 11.9 39.0 49.1

10 Vientiane 119 27.2 39.2 33.6 28.7 42.7 28.6 26.3 37.3 36.5

11 Borikhamxay 69 27.1 42.3 30.5 32.9 47.7 19.4 20.9 36.5 42.6

12 Khammuane 77 32.9 32.3 34.8 36.4 39.1 24.5 30.4 27.4 42.2

13 Savannakhet 78 48.8 15.6 35.7 55.0 20.0 25.0 46.9 14.3 38.8

14 Saravane 53 26.8 25.6 47.6 35.4 27.0 37.5 23.0 25.0 52.0

15 Sekong 12 37.5 35.9 26.6 48.8 26.8 24.3 30.1 41.8 28.1

16 Champasack 203 17.3 25.2 57.5 28.6 24.3 47.1 9.5 25.9 64.7

17 Attapeu 30 41.0 24.3 34.6 50.0 27.8 22.2 35.1 22.1 42.8

18 Xaysomboon 18 29.1 16.4 54.5 18.9 23.6 57.5 35.1 12.2 52.8

54

Table 38. Percentage distribution employment by institutional sector, education attained

Educational attained Employed person

(1,000) Formal sector

Informal sector

Households

Not enrolled 164 3.9 35.6 60.4

Less than primary 579 9.4 40.5 50.1

Primary completed 359 16 41.4 42.6

Lower secondary 243 20.9 45.2 33.9

Upper Secondary 57 31.4 36.8 31.8

Vocational first 33 63.6 20.5 15.9

Vocational middle 92 72.5 18.1 9.4

Vocational high 124 81.8 9.8 8.4

University and upper 107 83.9 10.5 5.6

Informal employment

Informal employment consists of two types of employment. The first comprises those who are employed in the informal sector enterprises that are not registered and do not keep accounts of their business, and the workers do not benefit from social protection and work-related benefits. The second segment consists of those who are informally employed outside the informal sector that is in the formal sector and in households. Their employers do not contribute to social protection, and they do not receive work-related benefits such as paid leave and paid sick leave. Contributing family workers are considered to be informal employment regardless of their institutional sector of work.

The table 39 shows a diversity across provinces in terms of informality. The highest informal employment rate occurred in Huaphanh (94.2 per cent) and in Luangprabang (93.4 per cent). The lowest rates were found in Sekong (68.0 per cent) and Savannakhet (69.1 per cent).

Women were more likely to be informal employment than men in almost all provinces, except in Luangprabang. The gender gap in informal employment rate was the highest in Sekong (20.1 percentage points) and Attapeu (14.9 percentage points).

55

Table 39. Informal employment rate, by province, sex and geographic area


Total Males Females Total Males Females Total Males Females


2 Phongsaly 90.3 90.1 90.6 76.3 97.7 75.7 77.0 97.8 97.6

3 Luangnamtha 85.0 85.1 84.9 72.2 96.8 69.3 75.1 96.8 96.6

4 Oudomxay 87.6 84.1 92.1 77.4 93.9 70.9 85.1 91.8 96.7

5 Bokeo 75.4 74.9 76.3 55.6 91.7 48.1 65.8 93.1 88.5

6 Luangprabang 93.4 92.3 94.9 89.8 95.7 87.6 92.2 94.9 96.8

7 Huaphanh 94.2 93.0 95.5 89.6 96.0 90.0 89.2 94.2 98.0

8 Xayabury 89.8 86.8 93.3 77.6 95.2 73.5 82.6 92.8 97.9

9 Xiengkhuang 82.8 77.2 88.2 68.5 91.0 59.0 77.7 87.6 94.5

10 Vientiane 80.2 78.1 82.6 77.0 82.1 72.2 82.1 81.4 82.9

11 Borikhamxay 80.5 77.1 84.1 76.2 85.2 70.2 82.4 84.5 86.0

12 Khammuane 76.1 69.9 82.4 72.2 78.8 68.3 75.7 70.9 87.9

13 Savannakhet 69.1 67.3 71.8 65.7 70.2 60.8 72.6 69.1 71.6

14 Saravane 86.1 86.1 86.1 75.8 90.6 73.0 78.6 91.3 89.7

15 Sekong 68.0 59.3 79.4 57.6 74.8 49.7 66.9 65.1 88.5

16 Champasack 86.5 83.7 89.5 74.9 94.6 70.5 79.4 92.5 96.9

17 Attapeu 71.4 64.8 79.8 63.2 76.9 49.7 74.0 71.9 85.6

18 Xaysomboon 84.8 80.0 91.7 82.8 86.0 75.1 93.3 82.7 90.8

Lao PDR 82.7 79.9 85.9 75.0 88.8 70.7 79.5 86.8 91.3

Table 40. Informal employment rate by education attained, sex and geographic area

Education attained Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex Male Female



Not enrolled 98.6 98.1 98.9 97.5 97.5 97.5 98.9 98.3 99.3



Lower secondary 88.8 86.9 91.2 88.3 85.0 92.5 89.2 88.9 89.6

Upper Secondary 87.3 83.7 92.1 86.2 83.3 90.2 88.5 84.1 94.0



Vocational high 36.6 35.4 38.1 34.7 34.2 35.2 40.6 37.8 45.0


Table 41 show that out of 1.8 million employed persons, 1.5 million was estimated to be in informal employment. Own-account workers accounted for 33.5 per cent, or 485 thousand persons, of informal employment, and contributing family workers accounted for another 46.3 per cent, or 673 thousand.

Informal employment breaks down into 269 thousand youth and 1,185 thousand adults in informal employment. More men were in informal employment than women in total: 750 thousand for men and 703 thousand for women. But for the youngest cohort aged 15 to 19 years old, more young women were in informal employment than men. More people were

56

informally employed in the rural areas (869 thousand) than in the urban areas (584 thousand).

Table 41. Informal employment, by age-group, sex and geographic area (1,000)


Both sex



Male Female

15-19 113 54 58 32 14 18 81 40 41

20-24 156 78 78 56 29 27 100 49 51

25-29 209 108 101 80 41 39 129 67 62

30-34 195 95 99 77 33 44 118 62 56

35-39 196 103 93 81 38 43 115 64 50

40-44 169 85 84 71 33 39 98 52 46

45-49 148 77 71 71 37 34 77 40 37

50-54 100 53 47 45 21 24 55 32 24

55-59 86 45 41 35 17 18 51 27 23

60-64 48 30 18 22 13 8 27 17 10

65+ 33 22 11 14 9 4 19 13 7

Youth (15-24) 269 133 136 87 43 44 181 90 92

Adult (25+) 1,185 618 567 497 243 253 688 374 314

Total (15+) 1,453 750 703 584 286 298 869 464 405

Given the prevalence of employment in the informal sector and in households, the total informal employment rate was 82.7 per cent (table 39). This rate was higher among women (85.9 per cent) than men (79.9 per cent) and in the rural areas (88.8 per cent) than in the urban areas (75.0 per cent).

The youngest and the older cohorts (aged 60 years and above) were more likely to be in-affected by informality. Youth were more likely to be in informal employment (90.1 per cent) than adults (81.2 per cent). The incidence of informal employment was lowest among those aged 30 to 34 years (76.0 per cent) and 50 to 54 years (78.5 per cent).

57

Table 42. Informal employment rate, by age-group, sex and geographic area


Both sex



Male Female

15-19 96.0 46.3 49.7 95.9 42.2 53.7 96.1 47.9 48.2

20-24 86.2 43.3 42.9 81.1 42.3 38.8 89.4 43.9 45.5

25-29 78.9 40.8 38.1 71.5 36.4 35.1 84.4 44.1 40.3

30-34 76.0 37.2 38.8 65.9 28.5 37.4 84.5 44.6 39.9

35-39 80.9 42.4 38.5 71.1 33.5 37.7 89.5 50.4 39.2

40-44 84.6 42.3 42.2 76.6 34.9 41.6 91.5 48.8 42.7

45-49 84.6 43.9 40.7 80.0 41.7 38.3 89.4 46.2 43.2

50-54 78.5 41.5 37.0 70.7 33.5 37.2 86.3 49.5 36.8

55-59 82.5 42.8 39.7 73.7 35.8 37.9 89.9 48.7 41.2

60-64 90.9 57.2 33.7 88.4 54.9 33.5 93.0 59.2 33.9

65+ 92.2 60.7 31.5 86.6 58.7 27.9 96.7 62.3 34.4

Youth (15-24) 90.1 44.5 45.6 85.9 42.2 43.7 92.3 45.6 46.6

Adult (25+) 81.2 42.3 38.9 73.3 35.9 37.4 88.0 47.9 40.1

Total (15+) 82.7 42.7 40.0 75.0 36.7 38.2 88.8 47.4 41.4

58

Chapter VI: Wages and other working conditions

Chapter VI looks at wages and conditions of work, namely gross monthly income for

employees (Section 6.1), Frequency of payment (Section 6.2), contract types (Section 6.3),

hours of work (Section 6.4), excessive hours of work (Section 6.5), and reason for excessive

hours of work (Section 6.6).

Gross monthly income

For the survey, data on wages and salaries were collected only from paid employees and not from people who were self-employed. All other forms of income (remittances, rental income, bank interest, etc.) received by paid employees were excluded. Wage and salary earnings can be of two types, in cash or in kind, and information was collected on both. Earnings paid in cash or by cheque or direct bank deposit was considered as cash earnings. Earnings in kind included the regular supply of food, clothing, housing, water, electricity, fuel, transport, etc. on a free or subsidized basis. No regular earnings, such as gifts in cash or kind, were excluded.

Average gross monthly income of employees, including cash and in-kind payments and

incomes from secondary jobs, was LAK 2.5 million and the median was LAK 1.8 million3.

There was a notable gender gap, with female employees earning, on average, LAK 0.5

million less per month than men. Average gross monthly income for employees in the rural

areas was also somewhat lower than in the urban areas by LAK 0.1 million.

Around half of the employees (50.1 per cent) earned in gross between LAK 1.0 and 2.0

million per month. 11.8 per cent of the employees earned less than LAK 1.0 million. The

most frequently earned range of income for women was between LAK 1.0 to 1.5 million

(32.1 per cent), while this for men was between LAK 2.0 to 2.5 million (24.5 per cent). A

notably higher proportion of employees in the rural areas earned less than LAK 1.5 million

(42.8 per cent) compared to the urban areas (32.9 per cent).

3 Due to some extreme outliers at the top end of the distribution, top 5 per cent of the distribution was excluded for the analysis in this table.

59

Table 43. Number of paid employees by gross monthly income, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Gross Monthly income Total Urban Rural


Lesthan1,000,000 64 35 29 27 13 14 36 21 15

1,000,000 thru 1,500,000 137 71 66 75 37 38 62 34 28

1,500,001 thru 2,000,000 134 82 52 86 51 35 48 31 17

2,000,001 thru 2,500,000 86 59 27 51 34 17 36 25 11

2,500,001 thru 3,000,000 39 28 11 23 16 7 16 12 4

3,000,001 thru 3,500,000 20 14 5 11 7 4 8 7 1

More than 3,500,000 61 46 16 38 27 10 24 18 5

Average income (Lao Kip) 2,481,000 2,670,000 2,173,000 2,532,000 2,812,000 2,109,000 2,412,000 2,491,000 2,269,000

Median income (Lao Kip) 1,800,000 2,000,000 1,600,000 1,900,000 2,000,000 1,700,000 1,700,000 1,860,000 1,500,000

60

Table 44, table 45, table 46, table 47 present the detail information on average monthly income from employment by province, sex, geographic

area, occupation, education attained, industry and age group.

Table 44. Average monthly income from employment by province, sex and geographic area



Lao PDR 2,407,000 2,653,000 2,051,000 2,686,000 2,977,000 2,310,000 2,075,000 2,305,000 1,694,000

1 Vientiane Capital 2,580,000 2,846,000 2,244,000 2,850,000 3,129,000 2,516,000 1,906,000 2,197,000 1,478,000

2 Phongsaly 2,647,000 2,755,000 2,497,000 2,668,000 2,908,000 2,392,000 2,625,000 2,623,000 2,629,000

3 Luangnamtha 3,209,000 3,694,000 2,458,000 3,548,000 4,506,000 2,407,000 2,671,000 2,707,000 2,583,000

4 Oudomxay 2,364,000 2,548,000 2,015,000 2,887,000 3,354,000 2,149,000 1,523,000 1,450,000 1,714,000

5 Bokeo 2,614,000 2,286,000 3,243,000 2,331,000 2,533,000 2,036,000 2,900,000 2,080,000 5,038,000

6 Luangprabang 1,721,000 2,080,000 1,170,000 2,219,000 2,711,000 1,555,000 1,357,000 1,657,000 846,000

7 Huaphanh 2,010,000 2,360,000 1,582,000 2,711,000 3,099,000 2,183,000 1,158,000 1,362,000 938,000

8 Xayabury 1,983,000 2,183,000 1,584,000 2,054,000 2,230,000 1,748,000 1,875,000 2,120,000 1,267,000

9 Xiengkhuang 2,786,000 3,554,000 1,926,000 2,411,000 3,062,000 1,704,000 3,043,000 3,883,000 2,082,000

10 Vientiane 2,567,000 2,965,000 2,054,000 2,925,000 2,961,000 2,879,000 2,372,000 2,968,000 1,602,000

11 Borikhamxay 2,255,000 2,536,000 1,884,000 2,454,000 2,670,000 2,123,000 2,071,000 2,396,000 1,696,000

12 Khammuane 1,957,000 1,965,000 1,947,000 2,485,000 2,211,000 2,744,000 1,590,000 1,828,000 1,231,000

13 Savannakhet 2,182,000 2,468,000 1,679,000 2,580,000 2,914,000 2,019,000 2,043,000 2,317,000 1,557,000

14 Saravane 2,922,000 2,948,000 2,888,000 3,364,000 3,862,000 2,794,000 2,692,000 2,519,000 2,943,000

15 Sekong 2,141,000 2,406,000 1,575,000 2,699,000 3,220,000 1,923,000 1,623,000 1,810,000 1,034,000

16 Champasack 2,206,000 2,376,000 1,882,000 2,484,000 2,758,000 2,071,000 1,827,000 1,948,000 1,501,000

17 Attapeu 2,455,000 2,421,000 2,523,000 2,212,000 2,598,000 1,791,000 2,663,000 2,322,000 3,964,000

18 Xaysomboon 2,510,000 2,802,000 1,711,000 2,768,000 2,989,000 1,861,000 2,410,000 2,719,000 1,673,000

61

Table 45. Average monthly income from employment by occupation, education attained, sex and geographic area (Kip)

Occupation Lao PDR Urban Rural


Lao PDR 2,407,000 2,653,000 2,051,000 2,686,000 2,977,000 2,310,000 2,075,000 2,305,000 1,694,000

Managers 2,979,000 3,288,000 2,675,000 3,470,000 3,823,000 3,145,000 2,070,000 2,385,000 1,722,000

Professionals 2,962,000 3,746,000 2,305,000 3,285,000 4,645,000 2,261,000 2,422,000 2,457,000 2,388,000

Technicians and associate professionals

2,971,000 3,021,000 2,876,000 2,881,000 3,091,000 2,532,000 3,332,000 2,802,000 5,396,000

Clerical support workers 2,768,000 2,845,000 2,644,000 3,038,000 3,131,000 2,874,000 1,788,000 1,604,000 1,999,000

Service and sales workers 2,257,000 2,264,000 2,253,000 2,501,000 2,086,000 2,731,000 1,837,000 2,513,000 1,306,000

Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers

1,913,000 2,309,000 1,340,000 1,943,000 2,640,000 1,161,000 1,902,000 2,203,000 1,421,000

Craft and related trades workers 2,360,000 2,760,000 1,558,000 2,744,000 3,103,000 1,962,000 1,960,000 2,383,000 1,183,000

Plant and machine operators, and assemblers

2,493,000 2,658,000 1,691,000 2,723,000 2,765,000 2,410,000 2,228,000 2,518,000 1,265,000

Elementary occupations 1,983,000 2,030,000 1,875,000 1,691,000 1,956,000 1,225,000 2,333,000 2,103,000 3,109,000


Not enrolled 1,514,000 1,505,000 1,522,000 2,085,000 1,821,000 2,250,000 1,301,000 1,414,000 1,187,000

Less than primary 1,972,000 2,233,000 1,613,000 2,162,000 2,552,000 1,746,000 1,843,000 2,053,000 1,496,000

Primary completed 2,265,000 2,473,000 1,934,000 2,338,000 2,445,000 2,198,000 2,181,000 2,499,000 1,548,000

Lower secondary 2,711,000 3,031,000 2,178,000 3,070,000 3,355,000 2,636,000 2,204,000 2,609,000 1,431,000

Upper Secondary 2,166,000 2,227,000 2,060,000 2,488,000 2,530,000 2,406,000 1,720,000 1,765,000 1,654,000

Vocational first 2,857,000 3,074,000 2,448,000 2,472,000 2,712,000 1,989,000 3,406,000 3,618,000 3,039,000

Vocational middle 2,626,000 2,719,000 2,499,000 2,628,000 2,822,000 2,388,000 2,625,000 2,585,000 2,689,000

Vocational high 2,715,000 3,034,000 2,310,000 2,856,000 3,393,000 2,234,000 2,416,000 2,362,000 2,499,000

University and upper 3,408,000 3,643,000 3,037,000 3,542,000 3,793,000 3,158,000 2,767,000 2,971,000 2,394,000

62

Table 46. Average monthly income from employment by industry, sex and geographic area (Kip)

Industry sector Lao PDR Urban Rural


Lao PDR 2,407,000 2,653,000 2,051,000 2,686,000 2,977,000 2,310,000 2,075,000 2,305,000 1,694,000

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

1,666,000 1,975,000 1,233,000 1,994,000 2,633,000 1,335,000 1,505,000 1,710,000 1,167,000

Mining and quarrying 4,534,000 3,691,000 8,631,000 3,540,000 2,939,000 6,104,000 5,591,000 4,453,000 12,019,000

Manufacturing 1,967,000 2,469,000 1,544,000 2,270,000 2,920,000 1,778,000 1,722,000 2,141,000 1,339,000

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply

3,082,000 3,249,000 2,155,000 3,362,000 3,505,000 2,543,000 2,381,000 2,596,000 1,266,000

Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities

2,688,000 2,808,000 2,078,000 2,578,000 2,677,000 1,965,000 2,818,000 2,972,000 2,175,000

Construction 3,773,000 3,284,000 10,142,000 4,772,000 4,190,000 10,997,000 2,721,000 2,361,000 8,774,000

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

2,255,000 2,322,000 2,195,000 2,870,000 2,836,000 2,896,000 1,528,000 1,817,000 1,212,000

Transportation and storage 2,256,000 2,277,000 2,069,000 2,454,000 2,493,000 2,180,000 1,834,000 1,851,000 1,540,000

Accommodation and food service activities

2,105,000 2,408,000 1,912,000 2,098,000 2,255,000 2,008,000 2,116,000 2,631,000 1,729,000

Information and communication

2,891,000 3,138,000 2,557,000 2,700,000 2,782,000 2,595,000 6,370,000 7,881,000 1,200,000

Financial and insurance activities

3,066,000 3,451,000 2,842,000 3,136,000 3,564,000 2,874,000 2,383,000 1,791,000 2,583,000

Real estate activities 2,199,000 2,199,000 - 50,000 50,000 - 2,580,000 2,580,000 -

Professional, scientific and technical activities

8,561,000 13,096,000 1,731,000 9,835,000 16,079,000 1,655,000 1,904,000 1,733,000 2,500,000

Administrative and support service activities

2,866,000 3,947,000 1,882,000 3,110,000 4,197,000 2,186,000 2,366,000 3,486,000 1,190,000

Public administration and defense; compulsory social

2,370,000 2,501,000 1,965,000 2,372,000 2,535,000 1,963,000 2,363,000 2,432,000 1,975,000

63

security

Education 2,535,000 2,597,000 2,477,000 2,465,000 2,737,000 2,246,000 2,614,000 2,468,000 2,781,000

Human health and social work activities

2,124,000 2,730,000 1,846,000 2,138,000 2,395,000 2,024,000 2,100,000 3,278,000 1,526,000

Arts, entertainment and recreation

2,206,000 2,478,000 2,072,000 1,619,000 2,429,000 1,294,000 3,372,000 2,544,000 3,971,000

Other service activities 1,589,000 1,743,000 1,466,000 1,643,000 1,676,000 1,613,000 1,487,000 1,891,000 1,216,000

Activities of households as employers, and activities for own use production

1,450,000 1,317,000 3,000,000 1,914,000 1,774,000 3,000,000 400,000 400,000 -

Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies

13,925,000 15,350,000 2,000,000 13,925,000 15,350,000 2,000,000 - - -

Table 47. Average monthly income from employment by age group, sex and geographic area (Kip)

Age group Lao PDR Urban Rural


Lao PDR 2,407,000 2,653,000 2,051,000 2,686,000 2,977,000 2,310,000 2,075,000 2,305,000 1,694,000

Adult(25+) 2,577,000 2,820,000 2,142,000 2,864,000 3,131,000 2,440,000 2,198,000 2,437,000 1,646,000

Youth(15-24) 1,335,000 1,432,000 1,231,000 1,419,000 1,493,000 1,348,000 1,268,000 1,382,000 1,136,000

15-19 1,207,000 1,328,000 1,077,000 1,235,000 1,335,000 1,144,000 1,192,000 1,324,000 1,038,000

20-24 1,464,000 1,536,000 1,385,000 1,603,000 1,652,000 1,552,000 1,344,000 1,440,000 1,234,000

25-29 2,059,000 2,351,000 1,715,000 2,138,000 2,423,000 1,840,000 1,974,000 2,282,000 1,559,000

30-34 2,280,000 2,357,000 2,185,000 2,305,000 2,556,000 2,057,000 2,249,000 2,162,000 2,385,000

35-39 2,627,000 2,634,000 2,616,000 2,893,000 2,689,000 3,167,000 2,267,000 2,571,000 1,594,000

40-44 3,044,000 3,362,000 2,525,000 3,527,000 3,931,000 2,964,000 2,451,000 2,753,000 1,846,000

45-49 3,176,000 3,748,000 2,188,000 3,619,000 4,462,000 2,239,000 2,476,000 2,676,000 2,098,000

50-54 2,773,000 2,999,000 2,386,000 2,879,000 3,022,000 2,650,000 2,596,000 2,963,000 1,891,000

55-59 2,786,000 2,928,000 2,468,000 3,211,000 3,330,000 2,958,000 2,214,000 2,408,000 1,746,000

60-64 2,151,000 2,340,000 1,577,000 2,324,000 2,396,000 2,145,000 1,920,000 2,273,000 444,000

65+ 2,300,000 2,658,000 1,619,000 2,878,000 3,372,000 1,939,000 1,639,000 1,843,000 1,251,000

64

Frequency of payment

Definition: Earnings (wages and salaries) is the concept of earnings as applied in wages statistics, relates to remuneration in cash and in kind paid employees for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation and other paid leave or holidays. The payment could be paid in one time, a day, a week, two weeks, month, and other.

Table 48. Number and percentage of employee’s distribution by frequency of wage/salary payment, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Frequency of payment Lao PDR Urban Rural


one-time payment 25 18 7 9 6 2 16 11 4

One day 23 13 10 7 3 4 16 10 6

One week 7 3 4 4 2 3 3 2 2

Two weeks 8 7 1 5 4 1 3 3 0

One month 453 279 174 277 165 112 176 114 62

Others 4 3 1 1 1 0 3 2 1

Percent (%)

one-time payment 4.8 5.5 3.5 2.9 3.5 2.0 7.3 8.1 5.8

One day 4.4 4.1 4.9 2.3 1.8 2.9 7.4 7.0 8.1

One week 1.4 1.0 2.2 1.4 0.9 2.1 1.5 1.1 2.3

Two weeks 1.6 2.3 0.5 1.7 2.4 0.5 1.6 2.2 0.5

One month 87 86.2 88.3 91.3 90.8 92.0 81 80.3 82.3

Others 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.4 1.3 1.3 1.1

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Contract types

Among all employees, 58.6 per cent had a written contract and 5.9 per cent an oral agreement. Female employees were slightly more likely to have no contract (36.2 per cent) than men (35.1 per cent). Employees in the rural areas were much more likely to have no contract (40.9 per cent) than in the urban areas (31.6 per cent).

Amongst employees with a contract or an oral agreement, a large majority of wage employees had a written contract (90.9 per cent) and were employed on a permanent basis (83.5 per cent). This implies that being a wage employee with a written contract or an oral agreement is associated with some degree of job security.

Female employees with a contract or an agreement were more likely to have a written contract (93.7 per cent) than male employees (89.2 per cent). There was little gender difference in the duration of contract. Employees in the urban areas were more likely to have a written contract (94.5 per cent) on a permanent basis (86.9 per cent) than their rural counterpart.

65

Table 49. Contract type for paid employees, by, sex and geographic area (Percent)

Contract type Total Urban Rural


Written contract 58.6 57.9 59.8 64.7 64.4 65.1 50.3 49.7 51.4

Oral agreement 5.9 7.0 4.0 3.7 4.3 2.9 8.8 10.4 5.8

No contract 35.5 35.1 36.2 31.6 31.3 32.0 40.9 39.9 42.8

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Permanent 83.5 83.5 83.6 86.9 87.4 86.3 78.1 77.7 78.7

Temporary 16.5 16.5 16.4 13.1 12.6 13.7 21.9 22.3 21.3

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Hours of works

The number of hours worked has an impact on the health and well-being of workers. Some persons in developed and developing economies working full-time have expressed concern about their long working hours and its effects on their family and community life. Additionally, the number of hours worked has an impact on workers’ productivity and on the labor costs of establishments. Measuring the level and trends in working time in a society, for different groups of persons and for individuals, is therefore important when monitoring working and living conditions as well as for analyzing economic and broader social developments.

Wage employees’ average hours of work per week in all jobs were 45.2 hours. Male employees worked somewhat more hours per week on average (45.9 hours) than women (44.2 hours). Urban employees worked more hours per week on average (46.0 hours) than rural employees (44.0 hours).

More than one-third of employees reported working more than 49 hours per week (38.6 per cent) on all jobs, and 44.2 per cent reported working 40 to 48 hours. Male employees were more likely to work long hours above 49 hours per week (40.6 per cent) than female employees (35.6 per cent). Employees in the rural areas tended to work shorter hours of 30 hours or less per week (16.8 per cent) than their urban counterpart (10 per cent).

66

Table 50. Number of paid employees by working hours per week, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Working hours per week Total Urban Rural


Less than 10 Hours 32 17 15 13 7 6 18 10 8

10-19 hours 21 13 8 9 6 2 12 7 5

20-29 hours 21 9 12 11 4 6 10 5 5

30-39 hours 24 14 10 11 6 4 14 8 5

40-48 hours 252 154 97 156 93 62 96 61 35

49+ hours 220 142 78 129 78 51 91 64 27

Average hours 45.2 45.9 44.2 46.1 46.4 45.7 44.0 45.3 41.8

The table 51 and table 52 present the findings on the average working hours of employed

persons by geographic area, rank of working hours, and occupation.

The survey collected detailed information on hours of work among employed persons aged 15 years or older. Respondents were asked about the number of hours they usually worked per week in their main job or activity and in any other job or activity. As well, they were asked about the number of hours actually worked each day in the seven days prior to the survey interview. Information on excessive hours of work per week and time-related underemployment also was collected.

Table 51. Average hours of employed persons worked per week by occupation, sex and geographic area

Occupation Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Managers 47.6 47.8 46.9 47.7 47.4 48.6 47.2 48.6 43.5

Professionals 42.2 41.9 42.5 44.5 43.1 45.5 38.5 40.2 36.8

Technicians and associate professionals

45.7 44.7 47.6 45.3 43.7 48.0 47.5 48.4 44.1

Clerical support workers 47.3 47.6 46.9 47.3 47.8 46.4 47.6 47.1 48.2

Service and sales workers 46.5 47.2 45.7 46.9 47.1 46.7 45.7 47.2 43.8


41.7 41.4 42.0 42.1 38.7 45.2 41.6 41.9 41.1

Craft and related trades workers

47.4 47.3 47.5 49.3 49.6 48.4 45.7 45.2 46.8


46.6 47.7 42.9 48.0 48.4 45.4 45.0 46.5 41.9


67

Table 52. Average hours of employed persons worked per week by industry, sex and geographic area

Industry Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female



Manufacturing 46.7 47.1 46.3 48.4 49.1 47.7 45.5 45.7 45.2

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 50.1 52.5 39.4 49.1 50.2 44.4 53.0 59.4 23.7

Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 44.1 45.2 38.6 44.6 43.3 54.5 43.3 50.0 25.0

Construction 46.7 48.7 36.5 45.3 47.5 37.9 47.9 49.7 34.2

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 46.5 45.9 47.5 48.7 47.9 50.4 43.7 43.4 44.2



Information and communication 46.0 48.5 43.8 46.5 50.1 43.4 35.2 20.6 60.0

Financial and insurance activities 45.0 45.1 44.9 45.3 45.9 44.9 41.6 28.1 44.8

Real estate activities 47.5 47.5 - 5.0 5.0 - 55.0 55.0 -

Professional, scientific and technical activities 50.3 50.0 50.6 49.4 47.7 50.6 54.4 54.4 -


Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 46.6 46.4 47.2 46.4 45.9 47.5 47.2 47.5 45.9

Education 39.2 41.0 37.5 40.3 40.2 40.4 38.0 41.6 33.7


Arts, entertainment and recreation 42.1 39.8 43.3 42.2 41.9 42.3 42.0 36.4 46.0



43.0 43.0 - 43.0 43.0 - - - -

Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies 46.0 45.0 54.0 46.0 45.0 54.0 - - -

68

Excessive hours of works

The indicator of employment in excessive working time provides information about the share of employed persons whose hours of worked exceed 48 hours per week.

Table and table present the Percentage distribution of persons with excessive hours of work per week, by occupation, sex, geographic area, and

industry. Table 53. Percentage distribution of persons with excessive hours of work per week, by occupation, sex and geographic area

Occupations Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex Male Female Both sex Male Female Both sex Male Female

Armed forces occupations 7.7 10.8 2.1 6.9 10.2 2.1 8.9 11.6 2.3

Managers 11.0 12.7 7.9 11.5 13.9 7.9 10.2 11.2 7.9

Professionals 20.1 13.6 31.9 23.0 14.5 36 16 12.6 24.3

Technicians and associate professionals 7.3 6.8 8.1 9.9 8.9 11.3 3.7 4.3 2.1

Clerical support workers 5.2 5.1 5.4 6.5 7.1 5.6 3.3 2.6 5.0

Service and sales workers 11.5 9.5 14.9 13.2 10.8 16.7 9.0 8.0 11.5

Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers 10.8 10.1 12.1 2.8 1.8 4.2 22.2 20.1 27.1

Craft and related trades workers 8.5 9.2 7.2 9.3 11.1 6.5 7.4 7.0 8.4

Plant and machine operators, and assemblers 7.7 11.0 1.5 7.5 11.9 0.8 7.9 10.0 2.9


Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

69

Table 54. Percentage distribution of persons with excessive hours of work per week, by industry, sex and geographic area

Industry Lao PDR Urban Rural




Manufacturing 7.9 7.0 9.5 6.9 6.3 7.7 9.3 7.8 13.1

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 2.3 3.2 0.5 2.5 3.7 0.8 1.9 2.6 -

Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 1.1 1.3 0.7 1.6 2.1 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.6

Construction 5.4 7.8 0.9 3.8 5.7 0.8 7.7 10.3 1.1

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 11.1 11 11.4 11.4 12.2 10.2 10.7 9.5 13.7



Information and communication 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.6 1.8 1.4 0.1 - 0.4

Financial and insurance activities 1.8 0.9 3.3 2.9 1.7 4.8 0.1 - 0.4

Real estate activities 0.2 0.2 - - - - 0.4 0.6 -

Professional, scientific and technical activities 0.7 0.4 1.2 0.9 0.2 1.9 0.5 0.7 -


Public administration and defense; compulsory social security 28.7 34.3 18.3 33.3 39.2 24 22.1 28.2 7.2

Education 13.5 11.6 17.1 12 9.2 16.3 15.7 14.4 18.6


Arts, entertainment and recreation 1.0 0.3 2.3 1.3 0.6 2.3 0.6 - 2.1



0.1 0.1 - 0.1 0.2 - - - -

Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.1 - - -

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

70

Reason for excessive hours of works

The main reasons provided by employees who worked more than 48 hours per week were ‘variable working time or nature of work (e.g. shift work, flexible hours)’ (26.6 per cent), ‘personal or family reasons or responsibilities’ (20.7 per cent) and ‘to have higher income’ (15.4 per cent).

Both male and female employees were equally likely to provide personal- or family-related reasons for working more than 48 hours per week (around 21 per cent). Reasons related to nature of work were more likely to affect female employees’ long hours of work (30.9 per cent) than male employees (24.7 per cent). In contrast, male employees were more likely to work longer hours for income related reasons than women: 18.7 per cent for men against 8.1 per cent for women.

Personal- or family-related reasons, as well as income-related reasons, were more often cited by the rural employees for working more than 48 hours per week than the urban employees. The urban employees worked long hours due to reasons related to the nature of work (32.5 per cent).

Table 55. Percentage of distribution of reasons for working 48+ hours for paid employees, by sex and geographic area

Reason Total Urban Rural


Variable working time/ nature of work (shift work, flexible hours)

26.6 24.7 30.9 32.5 28.7 38.7 20.9 21.3 19.7

Contractual hours (part-time job, government job)

2.7 2.3 3.6 0.6 0.3 1.3 4.7 3.9 7.0

Increase in workload, high workload during the last days

11.9 11.0 13.7 7.2 8.5 5.1 16.4 13.1 26.1

To have a higher income 15.4 18.7 8.1 14.0 17.3 8.4 16.7 19.8 7.7

Days off, holidays, annual leave, special leave

5.0 5.4 4.2 5.4 4.3 7.2 4.7 6.3 0.0

Personal, family reasons, family responsibilities

20.7 20.5 21.1 17.9 18.1 17.7 23.4 22.4 26.1

Illness, injuries, etc. 0.8 1.0 0.5 1.4 2.2 0.0 0.3 0.0 1.2

Reduction in clients or orders, lack of raw material/ energy, etc.

0.2 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.7

Schooling or training 0.9 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.8 2.4 0.0

Strike or labor dispute 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Start/End/Change of jobs 0.4 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0 3.2

Seasonal work, low season 2.0 2.2 1.6 2.2 2.2 2.1 1.9 2.2 0.9

Bad weather, natural disaster

7.8 6.7 10.1 11.8 10.3 14.3 3.8 3.7 4.0

Other (specify): 5.6 6.3 4.1 7.1 8.2 5.2 4.1 4.7 2.4

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

71

Chapter VII: Labor underutilization

Chapter VII looks at labor underutilization and its components, namely labor force underutilization (sector 7.1), Youth labor force underutilization (Sector 7.2), time-related underemployment (sector 7.3), Potential labor force (sector 7.4).

Time-related underemployment are those who want to work more hours, are currently available to work more but worked less than 35 hours a week in all jobs. Unemployed are those who were without work during the last 7 days and were available and actively seeking for work. Potential labor force comprises those who were outside the labor force, but reported being either available but not actively seeking work or actively seeking work but not available.

Measures of labor underutilization capture the unmet need for employment due to mismatches between labor supply and demand. Labor underutilization rate is based on the extended labor force, which is the sum of the labor force and the potential labor force. Thus, labor underutilization rate is estimated as the sum of those in time-related underemployment and in unemployment (in the labor force) and the potential labor force (outside the labor force) as a proportion of the extended labor force.

Labor underutilization

A total of 604 thousand persons did not fully meet their need for employment. Potential labor force (401 thousand) accounted for almost two-third of the underutilized labor and another 30 per cent (182 thousand) due to unemployment. Time-related underemployment constituted a very small proportion of underutilized labor (21 thousand or 13 per cent).

There was little difference in the composition of underutilized labor between men and women. The potential labor force was 324 thousand and constituted the bulk of the underutilized labor in the rural areas. The situation was similar in the urban areas, but unemployment and time-related underemployment were somewhat more important component of labor utilization than in the rural areas.

Table 56. Labor underutilization by sex and geographic location (1,000)

Component Total Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Time-related underemployment

21 13 8 8 4 4 13 9 4

Unemployment 182 113 69 44 28 16 139 85 54

Potential labour force 401 240 161 76 42 35 324 198 126

Labour underutilization

604 366 238 128 74 54 476 292 184

The total labor underutilization rate was estimated to be 25.8 per cent. This can be broken

down into 0.9 per cent due to time-related underemployment, 7.8 per cent due to

unemployment and 17.1 per cent due to the potential labor force. The potential labor force

accounted for the bulk of labor underutilization.

72

Men experienced higher underutilization rate than women. It stood at 28.3 per cent for men against 22.7 per cent for women.

There was a large urban-rural difference in the underutilization rate. Labor underutilization rate in the rural areas (33.0 per cent) was more than twice that in the urban areas (14.2 per cent). Much of the difference is due to the big size of the potential labor force in the rural areas, but also to some extent due to unemployment.

Table 57. Labor underutilization by sex and geographic area

Composite Total Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

In time-related underemployment

0.9 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.1 0.6

Unemployed 7.8 8.8 6.6 4.9 6.0 3.7 9.6 10.4 8.6

In potential labor force 17.1 18.6 15.3 8.5 8.8 8.2 22.5 24.3 20.2

Labour underutilization rate

25.8 28.3 22.7 14.2 15.6 12.7 33.0 35.8 29.4

Table 58. Distribution labor underutilization rate by province, region, sex and geographic area



Lao PDR 25.8 28.3 22.7 14.2 15.6 12.7 33.0 35.8 29.4


2 Phongsaly 21.8 23.1 20.1 12.3 12.2 12.5 26 27.9 23.6

3 Luangnamtha 18.7 20.6 16.1 17.1 19.6 14.3 20.2 21.3 18.2

4 Oudomxay 34.7 35.0 34.4 22.7 23.0 22.3 41.0 41.0 40.9

5 Bokeo 38.9 41.9 32.7 11.8 14.1 8.5 51.4 52.6 48.6

6 Luangprabang 16.2 16.7 15.6 14.3 11.9 16.9 17.3 19.1 14.6

7 Huaphanh 36.7 39.3 33.6 26.7 29.2 23.9 39.7 42.3 36.6

8 Xayabury 6.3 6.4 6.2 7.6 6.3 9.1 5.8 6.5 5.0

9 Xiengkhuang 18.4 18.2 18.7 6.0 5.9 6.2 24.3 23.9 24.6

10 Vientiane 27.9 29.6 26.0 10.4 10.7 10.0 35.3 36.9 33.2

11 Borikhamxay 15.8 19.8 11.1 8.4 10.0 6.6 22.8 28.3 15.8

12 Khammuane 31.5 37.2 24.4 22.2 23.6 21.0 36.7 43.4 26.9

13 Savannakhet 70.3 71.1 68.9 57.3 61.2 50.5 72.7 73.1 72.1

14 Saravane 14.9 19.0 10.1 4.2 4.7 3.7 18.9 23.5 12.9

15 Sekong 27.4 27.5 27.3 16.5 12.7 20.6 33.0 34.1 31.4

16 Champasack 25.3 29.5 20.5 11.0 12.9 9.0 32.9 37.5 27.1

17 Attapeu 31.2 32.7 29.1 23.8 31.1 16.7 35.3 33.4 38.5

18 Xaysomboon 40.4 40.7 40.0 38.4 33.3 43.9 41.5 44.0 37.5

73

Table 59. Distribution labor underutilization rate by occupation and educational level

Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Lao PDR 25.8 28.3 22.7 14.2 15.6 12.7 33 35.8 29.4

Occupations

Managers 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.7 0.7

Professionals 0.2 0.4 - --

0.3 0.7 - -

- -

-

- - Technicians and associate

professionals 0.5 0.7 -

- - -

- -

- -

2.3 2.9 - - Clerical support workers 0.5 0.9 -

- 0.7 1.1 -

- - -

- -

- - Service and sales workers 1.5 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.2


1.5 1.7 1.1 1.7 2.2 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.1

Craft and related trades workers 1.6 2.1 0.9 0.8 0.5 1.3 2.4 3.9 0.5


0.8 1.0 - 0.6 0.6 - 1.1 1.5 -



Not enrolled 36.4 42.9 32.0 23.5 31.9 18.6 39.0 44.9 34.8



Lower secondary 19.0 21.7 15.1 12.7 14 10.9 25.3 28.5 19.9

Upper Secondary 35.4 36.7 33.5 27.7 27.5 28.0 41.9 44.3 38.3



Vocational high 13.8 13.6 14.1 11.3 11.3 11.3 18.6 17.5 20.1


Youth labor underutilization

Of the estimated 604 thousand underutilized labor, 222 thousand youth experienced unmet needs for employment (37 per cent of all underutilized labor). Thus, young people faced more difficulties in fully taking part in employment. The composition of labor underutilization was very similar to the total (table 56). A large bulk of youth labor underutilization was due to the large size of the potential labor force (150 thousand).

Underutilization affected young men more than young women, and in the rural areas than in the urban areas.

The youth labor utilization rate was 43.2 per cent, which is much higher than the 25.8 per

cent for the total extended labor force. This rate breaks down into 1.2 per cent due to time-

related underemployment, 12.9 per cent due to unemployment and 29.1 per cent due to

the potential labor force. They indicate that large proportion of youth was marginally

attached to the labor force, and when youth were in the labor force, they had difficulties

finding employment.

Young men were more likely to have unmet employment needs than young women: 46.2

per cent for young men against 39.9 per cent for young women. Youth in the rural areas

74

were also much more likely to be underutilized (48.5 per cent) than youth in the urban areas

(29.1 per cent).

Table 60. Youth labor underutilization (15-24) by, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Component Total Urban Rural

Both sex

Male Female Total Males Female Total Male

Female

Time-related underemployment 6 3 3 1 0 1 5 2 2

Unemployment 66 38 28 17 9 7 50 29 20

Potential labour force 150 82 68 23 11 12 127 70 56

Labour underutilization 222 123 99 41 21 20 181 102 79

Percent (%)

Time-related underemployment rate 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.0 0.7 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3

Unemployment rate 12.9 14.4 11.2 11.7 13.3 10.2 13.3 14.87

11.7

Potential labour force rate 29.1 30.7 27.4 16.4 16.3 16.5 34.0 35.8 31.9

labour underutilization rate 43.2 46.2 39.9 29.1 30.2 28.0 48.5 51.8 44.9

75

Time-related underemployment

Table 33, table 34, table 35 and table 36 present the percentage distribution of persons in

time related underemployment by province, sex, geographic area, education attained, age group, occupation and industry Table 61. Percentage distribution of persons in time related underemployment by province,

sex and geographic area


Both sex



Male Female

1 Vientiane Capital 12.4 12.9 11.5 20.8 18 23.8 7.5 10.8 -

2 Phongsaly 3.6 4.3 2.4 2.4 3.3 1.5 4.3 4.7 3.3

3 Luangnamtha 4.9 5.8 3.3 6.9 7.0 6.7 3.8 5.4 -

4 Oudomxay 23 24.4 20.5 1.2 2.3 - 35.4 33.5 39.8

5 Bokeo 2.9 4.0 1.2 1.8 2.5 1.1 3.6 4.5 1.4

6 Luangprabang 7.6 7.2 8.3 9.9 11.9 7.9 6.2 5.2 8.6

7 Huaphanh 2.9 1.9 4.6 7.9 6.4 9.5 - - -

8 Xayabury 2.0 1.1 3.5 5.5 3.8 7.3 - - -

9 Xiengkhuang 2.1 2.5 1.5 2.6 2.1 3.1 1.9 2.7 -

10 Vientiane 0.7 - 1.8 - - - 1.1 - 3.6

11 Borikhamxay 6.0 7.0 4.2 3.1 3.4 2.7 7.7 8.5 5.6

12 Khammuane 8.4 8.0 9.0 15.9 13.3 18.6 4.1 5.9 -

13 Savannakhet 6.8 2.8 13.7 4.8 9.5 - 8.0 - 26.7

14 Saravane 3.4 5.3 - 1.8 3.5 - 4.3 6.1 -

15 Sekong 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.9 1.1 0.7 - - -

16 Champasack 8.2 6.7 10.7 6.8 - 13.7 9.0 9.5 8.0

17 Attapeu 2.9 3.1 2.6 2.8 3.6 2.0 3.0 2.9 3.1

18 Xaysomboon 1.9 2.6 0.7 4.9 8.3 1.4 0.2 0.3 -

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Table 62. Percentage distribution of persons in time related underemployment by complete educational level and age group

Educational attained Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex Male Female Both sex Male Female Both sex Male Female

Not enrolled 5.5 4.5 7.1 1.4 2.7 - 7.8 5.3 13.8



Lower secondary 13.0 14.0 11.3 13.7 22.5 4.7 12.6 10.5 17.5

Upper Secondary 5.9 1.2 13.8 8.4 4.1 12.7 4.5 - 14.9

Vocational first 0.5 0.9 - 0.8 1.6 - 0.4 0.5 -

Vocational middle 1.0 1.6 - 1.2 2.3 - 0.9 1.3 -

Vocational high 2.5 2.4 2.6 5.5 5.7 5.3 0.8 1.1 -

University and upper

2.5 3.3 1.1 6.8 11.3 2.2 - - -

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

76

Potential labor force

Table 63 presents percentage distribution of potential labor force by province, sex and geographic area, educational attained and age group

Table 63. Percentage distribution of potential labor force by province, sex and geographic area

Code Province Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

1 Vientiane Capital 6.3 5.8 7.1 25.8 27 24.3 1.7 1.3 2.4

2 Phongsaly 3.5 3.1 4.0 3.1 2.7 3.5 3.6 3.2 4.1

3 Luangnamtha 1.9 1.9 2.0 4.2 4.6 3.7 1.4 1.3 1.5

4 Oudomxay 6.3 5.2 8.0 7.6 6.2 9.3 6.1 5.0 7.7

5 Bokeo 1.4 1.6 1.2 0.4 0.6 0.3 1.7 1.8 1.5

6 Luangprabang 2.8 2.9 2.7 3.5 2.9 4.2 2.7 2.9 2.3

7 Huaphanh 7.3 7.1 7.7 5.0 4.5 5.8 7.9 7.7 8.2

8 Xayabury 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.6 2.2 3.2 1.8 1.8 1.7

9 Xiengkhuang 4.9 3.8 6.7 1.8 1.5 2.2 5.7 4.3 7.9

10 Vientiane 9.2 9.1 9.3 4.4 4.4 4.4 10.3 10.1 10.7

11 Borikhamxay 2.3 2.4 2.1 2.8 2.4 3.3 2.2 2.4 1.8

12 Khammuane 5.5 6.2 4.6 5.8 4.9 6.8 5.5 6.4 4.0

13 Savannakhet 36 38.3 32.7 24.8 28.9 20 38.7 40.2 36.2

14 Saravane 1.4 1.5 1.4 0.5 0.2 0.9 1.7 1.7 1.5

15 Sekong 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.6 1.1 0.9 1.0 0.8

16 Champasack 4.7 5.1 4.1 1.8 2.0 1.5 5.4 5.7 4.9

17 Attapeu 1.8 1.7 1.9 2.8 3.1 2.4 1.5 1.4 1.8

18 Xaysomboon 1.6 1.6 1.6 2.3 1.4 3.3 1.5 1.7 1.1

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

77

Chapter VIII: Social protection: coverage and benefits

Chapter VIII looks at the current levels of social protection coverage and existing schemes,

characteristics of main contributors (Section 8.1), working age population by social

protection scheme (Section 8.2), social protection benefits and current beneficiaries

(Section 8.3), and Population not covered by and not benefitting from social protection

(Section 8.4).

Total population covered by social protection

Table 64 shows the highest population covered by social protection in Vientiane capital (212 thousand) and follows by Savannakhet province (140 thousand), and the lowest in Phongsaly and Sekong at 16 thousand

Table 64. Total population covered by social protection by province, sex and geographic area


Both sex



Male Female

Lao PDR 996 510 485 523 268 254 473 242 231


2 Phongsaly 16 8 8 13 6 6 3 2 2

3 Luangnamtha 20 11 10 17 9 8 3 2 1

4 Oudomxay 38 21 17 24 13 11 14 8 6

5 Bokeo 17 9 7 13 7 6 4 2 2

6 Luangprabang 65 34 31 35 18 18 30 16 14

7 Huaphanh 20 12 9 14 8 6 6 4 2

8 Xayabury 60 33 27 38 20 19 21 13 8

9 Xiengkhuang 40 20 19 25 13 12 15 7 7

10 Vientiane 60 31 30 24 12 12 36 18 18

11 Borikhamxay 27 16 12 17 10 7 10 5 5

12 Khammuane 68 35 33 36 18 18 32 17 15

13 Savannakhet 140 70 71 34 18 15 107 51 55

14 Saravane 82 41 41 10 4 5 72 37 36

15 Sekong 16 8 8 6 3 3 10 5 5

16 Champasack 72 37 35 49 25 25 22 12 10

17 Attapeu 22 12 10 10 5 4 12 7 5

18 Xaysomboon 21 11 10 7 4 3 14 7 7

Percent of population covered by social protection to total population in each province

Lao PDR 14.4 15.0 13.8 25.6 27.0 24.3 9.7 10.0 9.4


2 Phongsaly 8.6 8.6 8.5 25 24.5 25.5 2.5 2.6 2.3

3 Luangnamtha 11.0 11.7 10.2 28.9 30.8 27.1 2.4 2.7 2.1

4 Oudomxay 11.5 12.8 10.3 28.6 30.5 26.6 5.7 6.7 4.7

78

5 Bokeo 8.6 9.2 8.0 27.2 30.6 23.9 2.8 3.1 2.4

6 Luangprabang 14.1 14.3 13.9 28.9 28.4 29.5 8.8 9.2 8.3

7 Huaphanh 6.6 7.5 5.7 27.2 28.5 25.6 2.3 2.9 1.8

8 Xayabury 14.5 15.8 13.2 30.7 31.3 30.1 7.5 9.1 5.8

9 Xiengkhuang 15.1 15.6 14.6 37 38.9 35.2 7.6 7.6 7.6

10 Vientiane 13.5 14.0 13.1 23.5 26.1 21.4 10.5 10.7 10.4

11 Borikhamxay 9.1 10.7 7.6 10.7 13.2 8.4 7.3 8.0 6.6

12 Khammuane 16.5 17.5 15.6 33.5 34.6 32.4 10.5 11.4 9.6

13 Savannakhet 13.8 13.8 13.7 29.6 32.5 26.8 11.8 11.5 12.1

14 Saravane 19.6 19.4 19.9 25.9 22.9 28.9 19.0 19.0 19.0

15 Sekong 13.2 13.4 13.1 34.2 35.0 33.6 9.4 9.5 9.3

16 Champasack 9.8 10.5 9.2 20.8 21.9 19.9 4.5 5.1 4.0

17 Attapeu 14.3 16.4 12.3 25.5 28.6 22.6 10.6 12.5 8.9

18 Xaysomboon 21.0 21.2 20.8 30.2 31.8 28.6 18.2 18.1 18.4

Table 65. Total population receiving benefits from social protection, by main social protection schemes, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Social protection schemes Lao PDR Urban Rural

Both sex



Male Female

Lao PDR 323 164 158 183 92 90 140 72 68

Health insurance 274 146 128 152 81 71 121 65 56

Maternity benefits 16 4 12 11 3 7 5 0 4

Employment injury and occupational disease benefits

5 3 2 3 2 2 1 1 0

sickness benefits 0 0 - - - - 0 0 -

Old age/ retirement benefits

4 2 2 3 1 2 1 1 -

Death benefits 2 1 2 1 1 0 1 - 1

Survivors’ pension/benefits 18 6 13 11 4 7 7 2 5

Unemployment benefit 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 -

Other (Specify) 4 3 1 2 1 1 3 2 0

Percent (%)

Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Health insurance 84.8 88.7 80.8 83.5 87.5 79.3 86.6 90.2 82.8

Maternity benefits 4.8 2.3 7.4 5.9 3.7 8.1 3.5 0.6 6.5


1.4 1.7 1.2 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.0 1.6 0.5

sickness benefits 0.0 0.1 - - - - 0.1 0.1 -


1.2 1.4 1.0 1.7 1.5 1.8 0.7 1.3 -

Death benefits 0.7 0.3 1.0 0.4 0.6 0.2 1.0 - 2.0

Survivors’ pension/benefits 5.7 3.5 7.9 6.0 4.0 8.0 5.2 2.8 7.9

Unemployment benefit 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.0 0.1 -

Other (Specify) 1.3 2.0 0.6 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.9 3.4 0.3

79

Working age population covered by social protection schemes

Of the 4.8 million working age persons, .75 million were covered by a social protection

scheme. The national social protection scheme covered 388 thousand men and 364

thousand women. 410 thousand and 342 thousand persons in the urban and the rural areas,

respectively, were covered by the national social protection scheme.

Table 66. Working age population covered by social protection, by province, sex and geographic area (1,000)


Both sex



Male Female

Lao PDR 752 388 364 410 209 201 342 179 164


2 Phongsaly 11 6 5 9 5 4 2 1 1

3 Luangnamtha 16 8 7 14 7 6 2 1 1

4 Oudomxay 26 14 12 17 9 8 9 5 4

5 Bokeo 12 7 5 9 5 4 3 2 1

6 Luangprabang 49 24 24 28 13 15 21 12 9

7 Huaphanh 16 10 7 12 7 5 5 3 2

8 Xayabury 45 25 20 28 15 13 17 10 7

9 Xiengkhuang 29 15 14 19 10 9 11 5 5

10 Vientiane 50 25 25 21 10 11 29 15 14

11 Borikhamxay 25 14 10 16 10 6 9 5 4

12 Khammuane 50 26 24 28 14 13 22 11 11

13 Savannakhet 105 56 50 27 15 12 78 41 38

14 Saravane 48 23 25 6 3 3 42 20 22

15 Sekong 10 5 5 5 2 2 5 3 3

16 Champasack 55 28 27 38 19 19 18 10 8

17 Attapeu 15 9 7 7 4 3 8 5 4

18 Xaysomboon 14 7 7 5 2 2 9 5 4

Percent (%)

Lao PDR 15.8 16.7 15.0 29.4 33.5 25.6 0.3 0.4 0.3


2 Phongsaly 9.0 9.5 8.5 22.7 24.1 21.2 0.1 - 0.2

3 Luangnamtha 12.2 13.2 11.3 24.6 28.2 21.3 - - -

4 Oudomxay 12.2 13.4 11.1 28.2 34.7 22.2 0.5 0.4 0.5

5 Bokeo 9.5 10.3 8.6 24.2 31.3 17.4 0.1 0.1 -

6 Luangprabang 16.4 16.5 16.3 23.5 27.6 19.6 0.6 0.5 0.6

7 Huaphanh 8.4 9.9 6.9 27.9 32.5 23.3 0.2 0.3 0.1

8 Xayabury 14.8 16.4 13.2 38.2 44.8 31.6 0.3 0.1 0.4

9 Xiengkhuang 16.8 17.8 15.8 50.6 56.6 44.8 0.1 0 0.2

10 Vientiane 15.5 15.9 15.1 42.7 48.2 38 0.4 0.6 0.1

11 Borikhamxay 11.4 13.8 9.1 11.8 15.1 9.0 - - -

12 Khammuane 17.0 18.3 15.8 28.3 33.3 23.6 0.4 0.8 -

13 Savannakhet 15.2 16.0 14.3 44.7 52.4 37.0 0.5 0.5 0.5

80

14 Saravane 19.8 19.1 20.5 51.6 47.9 55.4 0.1 0.1 0.1

15 Sekong 14.4 15.1 13.8 39.3 52.3 28.1 0.4 0.2 0.6

16 Champasack 10.4 11.0 9.8 19.8 22.7 17.2 0.4 0.4 0.4

17 Attapeu 15.9 18.6 13.4 35.4 44.8 27.0 0.2 0.4 -

18 Xaysomboon 22.2 23.3 21.2 37.2 48.4 26.5 1.8 1.7 1.9

259 thousand persons reported to be currently receiving benefits from social protection

coverage or a health scheme. The bulk of the beneficiaries were currently mainly benefitting

from health insurance coverage (220 thousand), followed by maternity benefits (14

thousand) and survivors’ pension or benefits (11 thousand).

Among the current beneficiaries, there were more men (132 thousand) than women (126

thousand) and in the urban areas (148 thousand) than in the rural areas (111 thousand).

Table 67. Working age population currently receiving benefits from social protection, by main social protection schemes, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Social protection schemes Lao PDR Urban Rural




Health insurance 220 119 101 124 66 59 96 53 43

Maternity benefits 14 3 11 9 2 7 5 0 4


4 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 0

sickness benefits 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0


4 2 2 3 1 2 1 1 0

Death benefits 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1

Survivors’ pension/benefits

11 2 8 6 1 4 5 1 4

Unemployment benefit 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other (Specify) 4 3 1 2 1 1 2 2 0

Lao PDR 259 132 126 148 74 74 111 59 52

Percent (%)

Health insurance 85.1 89.8 80.0 84.1 89.3 79.0 86.3 90.6 81.5

Maternity benefits 5.4 1.9 9.0 6.1 2.9 9.4 4.4 0.7 8.5


1.5 1.7 1.2 2.1 2.2 2.0 0.6 1.2 0.0

sickness benefits 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0


1.5 1.8 1.3 2.0 1.9 2.2 0.8 1.6 0.0

Death benefits 0.7 0.4 1.1 0.5 0.7 0.3 1.1 0.0 2.2

Survivors’ pension/benefits

4.2 1.9 6.6 3.9 1.8 6.0 4.5 2.0 7.3

Unemployment benefit 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Other (Specify) 1.6 2.3 0.8 1.1 1.2 1.1 2.2 3.8 0.4

Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

81

Social protection benefits and current beneficiaries

The current beneficiaries from social protection schemes were concentrated in Vientiane

Capital (85 thousand), Champasack (24 thousand) and Xayabury (24 thousand). Even though

there were more male current beneficiaries than women in total, more women (45

thousand) were currently receiving social protection benefits than men (39 thousand) in

Vientiane Capital.

Table 68. Working age population receiving social protection benefits, by province, sex and geographic area (1,000)


Both sex



Male Female


2 Phongsaly 4 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 0

3 Luangnamtha 7 3 4 6 3 3 1 1 1

4 Oudomxay 7 4 3 4 2 2 3 2 1

5 Bokeo 7 4 3 5 3 2 2 1 1

6 Luangprabang 15 8 7 7 3 4 8 5 3

7 Huaphanh 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0

8 Xayabury 24 13 11 14 7 7 10 6 4

9 Xiengkhuang 8 4 4 6 3 3 3 1 1

10 Vientiane 16 8 8 8 3 4 8 5 3

11 Borikhamxay 15 9 7 10 6 4 5 3 2

12 Khammuane 8 5 3 5 3 2 3 2 1

13 Savannakhet 18 9 9 3 2 2 15 8 7

14 Saravane 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

15 Sekong 3 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1

16 Champasack 24 13 11 18 10 8 6 3 3

17 Attapeu 7 4 4 4 2 2 3 2 2

18 Xaysomboon 6 3 3 2 1 1 4 2 2

Lao PDR 259 132 126 148 74 74 111 59 52

82

Among the 1 million persons who were covered by a social protection scheme, a large majority was covered by the National Social Security Fund (721 thousand or 72.4 per cent of the covered population). This was followed by National Health Insurance Fund (210 thousand or 21.1 per cent). A very small proportion of the coverage was due to private schemes (6.5 per cent).

In the urban l areas, coverage by the National Health Insurance Fund was relatively more important institution (90.4 per cent of the covered urban population) than in the rural areas (60 per cent).

Table 69. Total population receiving social protection, by main categories of benefits, sex and geographic area (1,000)

Social protection benefits Total Urban Rural

Both sex


Males Female Both sex

Males Female

National Social Security Fund 274 146 128 152 81 71 121 65 56

National Health Insurance Fund (Health Equity Fund)

16 4 12 11 3 7 5 0 4

Private social security, health insurance

5 3 2 3 2 2 1 1 0

Private health care 0 0 - - - - 0 0 -

Private company/institution 4 2 2 3 1 2 1 1 -

Others 2 1 2 1 1 0 1 - 1

Lao PDR 323 164 158 183 92 90 140 72 68

Population not covered by and not benefited from social protection

5.9 million Persons out of the total 6.9 million populations (0+) were not covered or was not

currently benefitting from social protection. Extending coverage to the rural population was

a notable challenge, where 4.4 million persons were not covered or was not currently

benefiting from social protection, compared to 1.5 million persons in the urban areas.

83

Table 70. Total population not covered by and not benefited from social protection, by

province, sex and geographic area (1,000)




2 Phongsaly 174 87 87 39 20 19 136 67 68

3 Luangnamtha 166 81 86 43 20 23 123 60 63

4 Oudomxay 292 142 150 60 29 31 232 113 119

5 Bokeo 176 92 84 34 16 18 142 76 66

6 Luangprabang 395 202 193 86 44 42 308 157 151

7 Huaphanh 289 144 145 38 20 18 251 124 126

8 Xayabury 352 173 179 86 43 44 266 130 136

9 Xiengkhuang 223 111 112 42 20 22 181 90 91

10 Vientiane 386 188 198 79 35 44 307 153 154

11 Borikhamxay 270 129 141 143 66 76 128 63 65

12 Khammuane 344 167 178 72 34 37 272 132 140

13 Savannakhet 878 434 444 80 38 42 798 396 402

14 Saravane 335 170 165 28 14 13 307 156 151

15 Sekong 106 51 55 12 6 7 93 45 48

16 Champasack 658 313 345 187 88 99 471 225 246

17 Attapeu 129 60 68 28 13 15 101 48 53

18 Xaysomboon 78 39 38 16 8 8 62 32 30

Lao PDR 5,921 2,899 3,021 1,515 725 790 4,405 2,174 2,231

84

Chapter IX. Migration

Moving from birth place

There were 539 thousand persons in the total population who currently lived in a place that was in a different province or a country of birthplace. Those that currently lived in Vientiane Capital and Vientiane province accounted for more than half of these 539 thousand persons.

Women were much more likely to live in a place other than their birthplace for family- or marriage-related reasons than men. Less than 10 per cent of these women reported job-related reasons. In contrast, almost 25 per cent of men stated that they currently lived in place other than their birthplace for job-related reasons.

Table 71. Population moved from birth place by sex and provinces (1,000)

Code Province Total

Total Male Female

1 Vientiane Capital 223 104 119

2 Phongsaly 5 3 2

3 Luangnamtha 15 7 8

4 Oudomxay 24 12 11

5 Bokeo 13 7 6

6 Luangprabang 11 6 5

7 Huaphanh 2 1 1

8 Xayabury 42 24 18

9 Xiengkhuang 6 3 3

10 Vientiane 60 34 26

11 Borikhamxay 22 12 10

12 Khammuane 18 12 7

13 Savannakhet 16 8 8

14 Saravane 8 4 4

15 Sekong 4 2 2

16 Champasack 37 21 16

17 Attapeu 12 7 5

18 Xaysomboon 20 10 9

Lao PDR 539 279 260

85

Family-related reasons accounted for around half of the persons who currently lived elsewhere than the province or the country of birth (50.6 per cent). Reasons related to marriage accounted for another one-fifth (24.5 per cent), followed by job-related reasons (8.6 per cent).

Table 72. The reason for those who moved from birth place by sex (Percent)

Reason Total Male Female

In search of job for pay 5.4 6.7 4.1

Conflict 0.7 0.6 0.7

Others 3.1 3.3 2.8

In search of establishing a business 0.8 1.1 0.5

To take up a new job 2.1 2.9 1.3

Job transfer 8.6 13.5 3.3

Study/Training 3.7 4.1 3.2

Marriage 24.5 21.3 27.9

Family moved/ to live with a relative/dependent 50.6 45.7 55.8

Health reasons 0.1 0.0 0.2

Natural disaster/ environment 0.5 0.7 0.2

Lao PDR 100.0 100.0 100.0

Household member living abroad

There were 127 thousand persons in the total population who were at present living in another country for more than 6 months, and almost 60 per cent of them were women. A large majority of them were reported to be living abroad for job-related reasons (87 per cent). Unlike internal mobility, there was little gender difference in terms of the motivation for migration. Job-related reasons were almost equally important for going abroad for both men and women.

68.8 per cent of those who were presently living abroad sent cash and/or goods back home in the last 12 months. Among the 110 thousand persons who were abroad for job-related reasons, 76.3 per cent were reported to have sent back cash and/or goods.

86

Table 73. The reason for household member living abroad more than 6 months by sex, and sent money back home (1,000)

Reason Total Male Female sent cash and/or goods back home

In search of job for pay 102 43 59 78

Conflict 0 0 0 0

Others 2 1 1 0

In search of establishing a business 1 1 0 0

To take up a new job 7 2 5 6

Job transfer 0 0 0 0

Study/Training 8 4 4 0

Marriage 4 0 4 2

Family moved/ to live with a relative/dependent

2 1 2 1

Health reasons 0 0 0 0

Natural disaster/ environment 0 0 0 0

Total 127 52 75 87

87

Annex A: Survey organization

National Steering committee 1. Dr. Samaychan Boupha, Deputy Minister, Head of Lao Statistics Bureau; 2. Mr. Bounkhong Lasoukanh, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare;

3. Mrs. Phonesaly Souksavath , Deputy Head of Lao Statistics Bureau; 4. Mr. Phongsaysack Inthalath, Director General of Department; 5. Mr. Yavang Vachoima; 6. Ms Thirakha Chanthalanouvong, Director General of Department Social Statistics; 7. Mr. Viengkhong Inthalangsy, Deputy Director General of Department; 8. Mr. Thay Sengaloun, Deputy Director General of Department;

Data analysis and report writing

1. Mr. Phongsaysack Inthalath, Director General of Department; 2. Mr. Viengkhong Inthalangsy, Deputy Director General of Department; 3. Mr. Vilaysook Sisoulath, Deputy Director General of Department Social Statistics; 4. Mr. Thay Sengaloun Deputy Director General of Department; 5. Mr. Somchit Aminthalath, Director of Division

6. Ms. Phuangmala Rasasy, Deputy Director of Division

7. Mr. Suthanu boulom, Director of Division

8. Habiyakare Tite, International Labour Organization;

9. Makiko Matsumoto, International Labour Organization;

10. Zhong, Kuangjie, International Labour Organization;

11. Mr. Somsamay Norasane, Senior Tecnical Staff,

12. Mr. Phinthong Phoommalath, Senior Tecnical Staff,

13. Ms. Khamkhounheuan Phimphan, Tecnical Staff

14. Ms. Alounphone Mangnormek, Tecnical Staff,

15. Mr. Leokham Douangphachan ,Senior Tecnical Staff, 16. Mr. Salanyu Saiyasan, Tecnical Staff.

Report Editor

1. Mrs. Phonesaly Souksavath , Deputy Head of Lao Statistics Bureau; 2. Ms Thirakha Chanthalanouvong, Director General of Department Social

Statistics; 3. Mr. Vilaysook Sisoulath, Deputy Director General of Department Social

Statistics; 4. Mr. Somsamay Norasane, Senior Tecnical Staff; 5. Mr. Leokham Douangphachan, Senior Tecnical Staff; 6. Mr. Thongxay Noravong , Tecnical Staff.

Technical task force group

88

1. Mr. Soulysack Phommasack, Director of Division; 2. Mr. Phoutavong Phommasak, Director of Division; 3. Mr. Somchit Aminthalath, Director of Division; 4. Ms. Phuangmala Rasasy, Deputy Director of Division; 5. Mr. Pangkham Thikeo, Deputy Director of Division; 6. Mr. Naymy Heuangkanthan, Tecnical Staff; 7. Mr. Vannasinh Soukmonty, Tecnical Staff; 8. Mr. Thongxay Noravong ,Tecnical Staff; 9. Ms. Manilath Chanthabounxa, Tecnical Staff; 10. Mr. Bee Yang ,Tecnical Staff; 11. Ms. Khamkhounheuan Phimphan, Tecnical Staff; 12. Mr. Soulisack Phomkhanxay ,Tecnical Staff; 13. Ms Anong Thomhongkham, Tecnical Staff; 14. Ms. Alounphone Mangnormek, Tecnical Staff; 15. Ms. Thipphachan Inthalungsy, Tecnical Staff; 16. Mr. Baybie Chanthavongsy, Tecnical Staff; 17. Mr. Phoudthasone Chounlasa, Tecnical Staff; 18. Mr. Khanxay Youchanthay, Tecnical Staff.

Field supervisors and enumerators

Vientiane Capital : 1. Mr. Khampasong vanthongthip, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Vientiane Capital; 2. Mr. Phouxay Xayyalinkham, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Capital; 3. Mr. Phouphet keovongvichith , Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Vientiane Capital; 4. Ms. Souksavanh Sethavnxay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Capital; 5. Ms. Chanthy Souvanyotha Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Capital; 6. Mr. Aekkasith Phommalath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Capital; 7. Mr. Yeuvang Sorchay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Capital; Phongsaly Province:

1. Mr. Duangsavanh Lavongmany, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Phongsaly Province; 2. Mr. Phetphim Phamavong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Phongsaly Province;

89

3. Mr. Thongdy Souvanphone, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Phongsaly Province; 4. Mr. Singnavong Phompitham, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Phongsaly Province; 5. Mr. Say Mahachith, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Phongsaly Province; 6. Mr. Touykham Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Phongsaly

Province; 7. Mr. Khamphou Thavichanh Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Phongsaly Province;

Luangnamtha Province : 1. Mr. Bounchan, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangnamtha Province; 2. Mr. Syvone Xaymetnga Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangnamtha Province 3. Mr. Chanthone keovongphet, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Luangnamtha Province 4. Mr. Birdthongxay Porthavongxay, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Luangnamtha Province 5. Mr. Yoy Youanjeusien, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangnamtha Province 6. Mr. Chanthaly Norlokham Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangnamtha Province 7. Mr. Mick Khoaungvanghan, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Luangnamtha Province

Oudomxay Province : 1. Mr. Pankeo Angnikhoun, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Oudomxay Province; 2. Mr. Ando Luangamath Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Oudomxay Province 3. Mr. Bounthan Bounthongphet, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Luangnamtha Province 4. Mr. Thongchay Xayyaseng, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Oudomxay Province 5. Mr. Sanmik Chorpitak, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Oudomxay Province 6. Mr. Somxay Inthavixay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Oudomxay Province 7. Mr. Vilath Inthavong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Luangnamtha Province

Bokeo Province : 1. Mr. Khamsouk Incheuang, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Bokeo Province 2. Mr. Phouvong Thoneheuangxay, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Bokeo Province

90

3. Mr. Xayphone Dalavanh, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Bokeo Province

4. Mr. Thonglien Keosysome, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Bokeo Province

5. Mr. Somsy Phommany, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Bokeo Province

6. Mr. Bounxay Xaythana, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Bokeo Province; 7. Mr. Somboun Luangleuxay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Bokeo Province; Luangprabang Province :

1. Mr. Khamsouk Phanthuvong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangprabang Province; 2. Mr. Bounsy Many, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangprabang Province; 3. Mr. Khamdy Duangdaboud, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangprabang Province; 4. Mr. Bounsavanh Souksavath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangprabang Province 5. Mr. Anouphab Sanaphon, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Luangprabang Province 6. Mr. Sithong Pamaxong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Luangprabang Province 7. Mr. Chayva Jiaporva, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Luangprabang Province

Huaphanh Province : 1. Mr. Somphone Sukavong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Huaphanh Province 2. Mr. Khamyord Lorphonxay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Huaphanh Province 3. Mr. Maymon VongKhamsy, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Huaphanh Province 4. Mr. Somsouk Phommixay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Huaphanh Province 5. Mr. Sinnavong Thongphachanh, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, huaphanh Province 6. Mr. Noyvilay Xaysaenban, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Huaphanh Province 7. Mr. Souk Duangvixay, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Huaphanh Province

Xayabury Province : 1. Mr. Phonsavanh Xaythong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Xayabury Province 2. Mr. Vilaxay Phetsalath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Xayabury Province

91

3. Ms. Khemphone Khampha, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Xayabury Province

4. Mr. Sertsay Phongsavanh Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Xayabury Province

5. Mr. Somlith Vongvichith, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Xayabury Province

6. Mr. Pasith pathilath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Xayabury Province

7. Ms. Laddavanh Saophila, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Xayabury Province

XiengKhuang Province : 1. Mr. Sivong Loryiaphao, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

XiengKhuang Province 2. Mr. Saoyasith Xayyasith, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

XiengKhuang Province 3. Mr. Thongphet Thammavong, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, XiengKhuang Province 4. Mr. Beelao, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, XiengKhuang

Province 5. Mr. Phouthong Duangpakanh, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, XiengKhuang Province 6. Mr. Phetsamone Sayphachanh, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, XiengKhuang Province 7. Mr. Phonekham Xayyavong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, XiengKhuang Province

Vientiane Province : 1. Mr. Khamvanh Phanmaha, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Province 2. Ms. Noymany Phengphaxay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Province 3. Mr. Sounthone Sybounhom, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Province 4. Mr. Touy Keosikhai, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Province 5. Mr. Onchanh Xaythong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Vientiane Province 6. Mr. Phonphaserth Vongpakdy, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Vientiane Province 7. Mr. Southin Sibounlerth, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Vientiane Province

Borikhamxay Province : 1. Ms. Khankeo Phiakeo, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Borikhamxay Province 2. Mr. Ngernthong Xayyaphet, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Borikhamxay Province 3. Mr. Phonethip Ouchanh, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Borikhamxay Province

92

4. Mr. Saiysavang xayyavong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Borikhamxay Province

5. Mr. Souksavanh Vongkhamthong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Borikhamxay Province

6. Ms. Anoulath Xayyavong, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Borikhamxay Province

7. Ms. Sithsaba Labtipha, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Borikhamxay Province

Khammuane Province : 1. Mr. Bounmy Manisy, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Khammuane Province 2. Mr. Sam Bouthalath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Khammuane Province 3. Mr. Bounthanom Sengdala, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Khammuane Province 4. Mr. Bounyong Chanthilath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Khammuane Province 5. Mr. Syda Inthalath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Khammuane Province 6. Mr. Thavisinh Vorakoun, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Khammuane Province 7. Mr. Khamphone Inthalangsy, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Khammuane Province

Savannakhet Province : 1. Ms. Xayyana Xayyalath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Savannakhet Province 2. Mr. Dalavanh Xayyahak, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Savannakhet Province 3. Mr. Keooudone Thoumany, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Savannakhet Province 4. Mr. Vongtha Sipaserth, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Savannakhet Province 5. Mr. Xaysoukkho Inthvong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Savannakhet Province 6. Mr. Kichome Somvilay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Savannakhet Province, Savannakhet Province 7. Mr. Saisamone Chithamath, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Savannakhet Province

Saravan Province: 1. Ms. Olakanh Duangboudda, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Saravan Province 2. Ms. Farsavanh Songsanasida, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Saravan Province 3. Mr. Soukhy Sibounmak, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Saravan Province 4. Mr. Tham Phommathep, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Saravan Province

93

5. Mr. Bounphanom Malaythong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Saravan Province

6. Mr. Bounlerth sengvilaysan, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Saravan Province

7. Mr. Somboun Khamanhak, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Saravan Province

Sekong Province: 1. Mr. Visayphone Khemmalay, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Sekong Province 2. Mr. Phonesavanh Phimmasene, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Sekong Province 3. Mr. Bo Thisavathdy, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Sekong

Province 4. Mr. Langsan Khodsakmeuang, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Sekong Province 5. Mr. Khamlar Mathmanivong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Sekong Province 6. Mr. Phousavaeng Silaphet, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Sekong Province 7. Mr. Thongxay Xayyasouk, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Sekong Province

Champasak Province : 1. Mr. Bounlonh Phonxiengsa, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Champasak Province 2. Mr. Somphou Keoboualapha, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Champasak Province 3. Mr. Bounphanh Singkhamluang, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Champasak Province 4. Mr. Sivanxay keobouapha, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Champasak Province 5. Mr. Sounthone Phiengvorravong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Champasak Province 6. Mr. Chanpheng Hemmatha, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Champasak Province 7. Mr. SomChay Sanavong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Champasak Province

Attapeu Province : 1. Mr. Vongvilay Sisoulath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Attapeu Province 2. Mr. Vongvilay Xaysongkham, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Attapeu Province 3. Mr. Vilavong Samanochak, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Attapeu Province 4. Mr. Souvannasone Phaengmavong, Provincial Department of Planning and

Investment, Attapeu Province 5. Mr. Kithvongxay Phouthavong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Attapeu Province.

94

6. Mr. Phatsady Sihalath, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Attapeu Province

7. Mr. Sipaserth Xayyasene, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, Attapeu Province.

Xaysomboun Province: 1. Mr. Xaengsouk Vilaisouk, Provincial Department of Planning and Investment,

Xaysomboun Province 2. Mr. Livone Thouxong, Mr. Xaengsouk Vilaisouk, Provincial Department of

Planning and Investment, Xaysomboun Province 3. Mr. Thoulor vaxeng, Mr. Xaengsouk Vilaisouk, Provincial Department of Planning

and Investment, Xaysomboun Province 4. Mr. Phengthao Cherchou, Mr. Xaengsouk Vilaisouk, Provincial Department of

Planning and Investment, Xaysomboun Province 5. Mr. Bounthong Bounphengsouk, Provincial Department of Labour and Social

Welfare, Xaysomboun Province 8. Mr. Mailor Yiathou, Mr. Xaengsouk Vilaisouk, Provincial Department of Planning

and Investment, Xaysomboun Province 6. Mr. Bounthuang Senavong, Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare,

Xaysomboun Province.

Annex B: Questionnaire

Labor force survey in Lao PDR - 2017

Province:……………………………………………………………….

District:……………………………………………………………….

Village:………………………………………………………………..

Village type (1.Urban, 2.Rural with road, 3.Rural without road)

HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION HH

HH1. No. of household: ____ ____ No. of sample household: ____ ____

HH2. NAME OF HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD : ____________

HH3 . NAME AND LINE NO. OF PERSON INTERVIEWED:

__________________ LINE NUMBER( HL1): __ __

HH4. INTERVIEWER’S NAME:____________________ HH5. SUPERVISOR’S NAME: _________________

INTERVIEWER VISITS

HH6. RESULT OF HH INTERVIEW:

Competed ……………………………………………...1 Not at House…………………………………………...2 Entire Household absent for extended period of time……………………………………………………..3 Refuse …………………………………………………4 Party competed………………………………………..5

Other (specify): ________________________ 6

Visit 1 Visit 2 Final Visit

DATE: ___ ___ / ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ DAY MONTH YEAR RESULT ............................ ____

DATE: ___ ___ /___ ___ /___ ____ ___ ___ DAY MONTH YEAR RESULT ............................ ____

DATE: ___ ___ /___ ___ /___ ___ ___ ___ DAY MONTH YEAR RESULT ............................ ____

After all questionnaires for the household have been completed, fill in the following information

HH7. TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS: __ __

HH8 Starting time:__:__ Ending time:____:____

HH9 If additional questionnaires used indicate

number: ____ ____

HH10 Supervisor on cental

level:__________________ HH11. Data entry:________________________

Module I. Housing and Household characteristics:

HC1. Type of dwelling in

which household lives?

Brick house................................................................................1

Wood/Brick house.....................................................................2

wood house................................................................................3

Did endure house.......................................................................4

Other ___________________________________________ 5

HC2. Ownership/ Rental status

of dwelling in which

household lives?

Owner/purchaser ...........................................................................1

Rent-Pay rent ……….....................................................................2

Rent-No pay rent ...........................................................................3

Rent-employer provide free.........................................................4

Other ____________________________________________ 5

HC3. Number of rooms in

dwelling in which household

lives? (including: bedrooms,

living room, dining room)

(Do not count Toilet and

bathroom, Balcony)

Number:_________ __________Room

HC4 Size by area in square

meters of dwelling in which

household lives?

Number -:____ ____ ____ ____(m2)

HC5 Main material of the

dwelling floor ?

Record observation.

Ceramic tiles ................ ………………..1

Concrete ................................................... 2

Wood planks ............................................ 3

Palm/bamboo ........................................... 4

Other (specify)________________ ..... 5

HC6. Main material of the roof

Record observation.

Tiles/Sipax/Concrete .............................. 1

Zinc .......................................................... 2

Wood ....................................................... 3

Bamboo ................................................... 4

Grass ........................................................ 5

Other (specify) ... ___________________6

HC7. Main material of the wall

Record observation

Brick/cement ............................................ 1

Wood ....................................................... 2

bamboo ................................................... 3

Other (specify) ............ ____________4

HC8.Your household have

Kitchen facilities for cooking?

Yes....................................................................................1

No......................................................................................2

H9. Bathroom facilities to

household within dwelling

unit?

Yes....................................................................................1

No......................................................................................2

HC10 What type of toilet

facilities used by household

within dwelling?

Flush/pour flush.................................................................1

Pit Latrine ventilated..........................................................2

Pit Latrine other..................................................................3

Compositing toilet .............................................................4

Bucket.................................................................................5

Hanging toilet.....................................................................6

No toilet..............................................................................7

HC11. Dose this dwelling have

electricity?

Yes (own meter).................................................................1

Yes (share meter) ...............................................................2

Yes (own generator)............................................................3

Yes, (use batteries)..............................................................4

No........................................................................................5

HC12. What is the household's

main source of energy for

cooking?

Electricity..............................................................................1

Paraffin..................................................................................2

Wood.....................................................................................3

Coal .......................................................................................4

Charcoal ................................................................................5

Sawdust.................................................................................6

Gas.........................................................................................7

Other___________________________________________8

HC13. What is the main source

of drinking water for members

of your household?

Piped water ...........................................................................1

Well/borehole protected........................................................2

Well/borehole unprotected....................................................3

River/Stream/Dam.................................................................4

Mountain source ...................................................................5

Rain water..............................................................................6

Bottle/can water.....................................................................7

Tank ......................................................................................8

Other___________________________________________9

HC14. What is the main source

of water used for members of

your household?

Piped water ...........................................................................1

Well/borehole protected........................................................2

Well/borehole unprotected....................................................3

River/Stream/Dam.................................................................4

Mountain source ....................................................................5

Rain water..............................................................................6

Bottle/can water.....................................................................7

Tank ......................................................................................8

Other ___________________________________________9

HC15. What assets does this

household own in working

order?

(Multiple answers)

Yes No

Tractor……………………………………….....1 2

Car/Van………...…………………………..…..1 2

Motor-bike…,…………………………………..1 2

Bicycle……,,……….…………………………...1 2

Boat…………………………………………..…1 2

Radio…………………………………………....1 2

Television…………….…………………….…...1 2

Telephone fixed………………………………...1 2

Cell phone……………………………………....1 2

Computer…………………………………….….1 2

Washing machine ………………………………1 2

Air conditioner.……………..………………..….1 2

Fan…………………………………………….…1 2

Fridge/Freezer …………………………………..1 2

Others (please specify)………………………

HC16. Ownership of livestock

by household (by type and

number of each type owned)?

1. Buffaloes_____________________________Number

2. Cattle ________________________________Number

3. Horse ________________________________Number

4. Elephants _____________________________Number

5. Goats/ Sheep __________________________Number

6. Pigs_________________________________ Number

7. Duck _______________________________ Number

8. chicken______________________________ Number

9. other livestock

HC17. Ownership of land by

household (by type and area of

each type)?

1 HECTARE = 10 000 m2

1.House land___________________________( HECTARE)

2 Ricefield land___________________________( HECTARE)

3. Upland rice field_______________________ ( HECTARE)

4. garden land________________________ ( HECTARE)

5.Other______________________________ ( HECTARE)

HC18. What is an average

income of your household per

month?

..............................................................Kips

HC19. Is your household

income increase or decrease?

Increase

Decreased

Same

Answer

1 ,3

HC22 HC20. What are the reasons of

your household’s fall in the

past 12 months?

(Multiple answers)

flood........................................................................1

drought....................................................................2

Enemy crop.............................................................3

Epidemics................................................................4

Business closing due to economic recession...........5

Price oil increased ...................................................6

Price inflation (increased consumption price)..........7

forest fires.................................................................8

storms.......................................................................9

landslides..................................................................10

no agriculture production..........................................11

unemployed...............................................................12

Other_____________________________________13

HC21 How was/were

problems caused overcome by

your household?

(Multiple answers)

No assistance from any organization...............................1

Recieved assistance from the Government .....................2

Recieved assistance from NGO.......................................3

From local community organizations...............................4

Assistance from relatives/friends......................................5

Increased working hours of household members………..6

Sold property, livestock/ ……………………….……….7

Reduced household expenditures…..................................8

Other..................................................................................9

HC22. Has any household

member have an outstanding

loan, or has obtained new loan

in past 12 months?

Yes..............................................................................1

No...............................................................................2

2 Next

HC27

HC23. Main reason for most

indebted household member

having a loan?

(Multiple answers)

To meet essential household expenditures ……………….1

To buy vehicle for household member……………………2

To purchase/remodel/repair/construct a house…….……....3

For health related expenditures for household member…...4

For ritual expenditures……………………………………..5

To operate /expand business…………………….………...6

To pay previous loan …………….……………….……….7

For agriculture production....................................................8

Other _________________________________________ 9

HC24. Where was the major

amount of loan obtained from?

Government bank..........................................................................1

Private bank..................................................................................2

Individual money lender... ...........................................................3

friends………………………………...........................................4

relatives………………….............................................................5

Village development fund………………....................................6

Other ______________________________________________7

HC25. Has debt been paid

back?

Yes, paid back all..................................................................1

Yes, paid back some.............................................................2

No, not at all ........................................................................3

3 Next

HC 27

HC26. How was debt paid (or,

will be paid) back?

(Multiple answers)

Cash, by borrowing money from someone else…………….…...1

Cash, by selling some assets…………………………………….2

Cash, by getting income from work..............................................3 Provide direct labor to creditor……………………………….............4

Other(specify) ______________________________________ 5

HC27 What is household

average monthly expenditure?

Number_______________________________Kip

HL0 How many person are there in your household ?

MODULE II: HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS

HL

HL0. How many people are usual member of this household? ____ ____

ID

perso

n

Name and

surname

of household

members

List names of

all

persons who are

usual members

of the

HH. Start from

the

head of

household

Relationship to

the head of

household

1. Head of

Household

2.

Husband/wife

3. Son

/Daughter

4:Son in law/

Daughter in law

5. Parent head

of household

6. Grandchild

7. Relative

8. Non –relative

Sex

1. Male

2. Female

Age

Enter Age

in

Complete

d years

For

children

less

than 12

months

enter

"000"

Marital status

1.Never-

married

2. Married

3. Divorced /

Separated

4. Widowed

5. Stay

together

Citizenship

1. Lao

2. Other

(Enter the

Country

Code

and

go to HL9)

(Country

code in the

enumerator

manual)

Ethnic

Origin

(Enter

the

code

from

the

enumer

ator

manual

)

(if no

ethnic

origin

record

‘50’)

Religion

1. Buddhist

2. Christian

3. Bahai

4. Islam

5. Other

6. No-

religion

Do you have any difficulty with the following

functions?

Cause of

main

difficulty

(for the

answer 2-4

in the HL10

– HL15)

1. Since

birth

2. War

3. Accident

4. UXO

5. Disease

6. Other

(specify)

1. No difficulty

2. Yes, some difficulty

3. Yes, a lot of difficulty

4. Cannot do at all

See

ing

Hea

rin

g

Wal

kin

g/

Cli

mb

ing

sta

irs

Rem

emb

er/

Co

nce

ntr

ate

Was

hin

g/

Dre

ssin

g

Co

mm

un

icat

ing

HL1 HL2 HL3 HL4 HL5 HL6 HL7 HL8 HL9 HL10 HL11 HL12 HL13 HL14 HL15 HL16

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

Question ED3: What grade are you

attending now?

Question ED6: What is your highest

education level?

00: No grade

11: Grade 1

12: Grade 2

13: Grade 3

14: Grade 4

15: Grade 5

16: Grade 6

21: Lower secondary 1




31: Upper secondary 1



Question ED8: Your highest level of

technical skills

00: no technical skills

14: Teacher training and education science

21: Arts

22: Humanities

31: Social sciences

32: Journalism and information

34: Business and administration

38: Law

42: Life science

44: Physical science

46: Mathematics and statistics

48: Computer

52: Engineering and trade

54: Manufacturing and processing

58: Architecture and building

62: Agriculture, forestry and fishing

* Question ED7: Main

reasons for not attending or

left school

1. Competed schooling

2. Disabled / illness

3. Too old for school

4. No school/school too far

5. Teacher was absent

6. Cannot afford schooling

7. Family did not allow

schooling

8. Not interested in school

9. To work for no pay in

household

10. Other

Module III: Educational attainment for all household members aged 5 and above (ED)

ID

code

Can you read &

write with

understanding

the Lao

language or

other languages?

Yes

1. Lao

2. Other

language

No

3. Not at all

Have you

ever

attended

school?

1. Never

(Go to

ED10)

2. Yes,

studying

Now

3. Yes, left

(Go to ED

4)

which level

and grade is

(name)

attending?

(Enter the code

above )

Next year, are you

studying or finding a

job?

1. Continue study

2. Not studying

3. Find the job

4. Studing while working

(for children attending

kindergarten, the questions

next model)

what age

did you start

school?

(counting

from first

grade of

primary

school)

What is your highest level

of education achieved?

(Enter the code above )

What is main reason why

you are not now in school/

college?


(if answer ED2 “2=attending

school” has no answer here)

What is main subject of study?

(in case no technical area of study

obtained, please write 00 and skip to ED

10)


ED1 ED2 ED3 ED4 ED5 ED6 ED7 ED8

1 2 1 2 1 2

1 2 1 2 1 2

1 2 1 2 1 2

1 2 1 2 1 2

Question ED 10: Main reasons why not in

school now

1. Too young

2. Disabled / illness

3. No school/school too far

4. Teacher was absent

5. Cannot afford schooling

6. Family did not allow schooling

7. Not interested in school

8. No value in education

9. Work to earn for household (wage earning)

10. Help unpaid family works

11. Other

Question ED 12: did you receive any training?

Question ED 14: what is the Main field of Vocational

Training?

Question ED 16: If you received assistance from an

organization, what technical skill would you like to be

trained?

1. Foreign language

2. Traditional massage

3. Driving

4. Sewing and cutting

5. Computer, software

6. Automotive fixing

7. Construction

8. A cook, pastry-cook

9. Electronic fixing

10. Radio, TV fixing

11. Air con fixing

12. Welding

13. Business administration/trade

14. Wood scaft

15. Hairdresser, beautician

16. Agricutlure

17. Agricultural/livestock

18. Mobile phone fixing

19. other (specify)________________

Module III: Educational attainment for all household members aged 5 and above ED

ID

person

what

Age she/he

last left

school?

skip to ED

11

What main reason

for not attending

school ?


(if answer ED2=2)

Is she/he

receiving or has

ever received

Vocational

Training (formal

or informal)?

1. yes

2. no

next to

ED 16

Did you receive

any training in

the past?


Mutipul choice

Offices or organization

provided training offered an

official certificate of

achievements?

1. yes

2. no

Main field

of

Vocational

Training

?

(record

code)

Duration of main

training (course)

in?

1. below 1

week

2. During 1 or 2

week

3. one month

4. more one

1: month

If you receive

assistance from

an organization

for

vocational/skill

training, what

would you like

to study?

ED9 ED10 ED11 ED12 ED13 ED14 ED15 ED16

MODULE IV: IDENTIFICATION OF EMPLOYED PERSONS (MAIN PAID JOB OR BUSINESS ACTIVITY)- EP


Now I would like to ask you questions about activities done in the last 7 days.

ID

Code

During the last 7 days, did you do

any work for a wage, salary,

commission, tips or any other pay,

even if only for one hour?

1. Yes…………… AC1

2. No

During the last 7 days, did you run or do any kind of

business, farming or other activity to generate income,

even if only for one hour?

(e.g. growing produce for sale, making things for sale,

buying and reselling things, providing services for

pay)

1. Yes……….….EP4

2. No

During the last 7 days, did you

help unpaid in a business

owned by a household

member, even if only for one

hour?

1. Yes

2. No…… …….EP6

Was this work in

agriculture?

1. Yes

2. No…………AC1

Are the products obtained from this activity

for sale or for family use?

1. Only for sale/barter………….. AC1

2. Mainly for sale/barter............... AC1

3. Mainly for family use

4. Only for family use

EP1 EP2 EP3 EP4 EP5


ID

Code During the last 7 days, did you have a

paid job or a business from which you

were temporary absent and to which you

expect to return?

1. Yes …………...

2. No…UE1

Why were you absent from work during the last 7 days?

1. Vacation, holidays ……………………………… AC1

2. Maternity, paternity leave………………..……... AC1

3. Sickness, illness, accident ……………………… AC1

4. Shift work, flexi time, variable timetable ……… AC1

5. Education leave, training

6. Other personal leave (care for family, civic duties, etc.)

7. Temporary reduction in clients, work break…

8. Laid off

9. Long-term disability

10. Bad weather condition, natural disaster

11. Strike, labour dispute

12. Seasonal work ……………………………….. UE1

13. Other (Please specify)………………

Including the time that you have been

absent, will you return to that same

job/business…….?

1. Within 3 months or less…AC1

2. After 3 months

3. Not sure to return

Do you continue receiving an income or other returns

from a job or business during this absence?

1. Yes………….. AC1

2. No ………….. UE1

EP6 EP7 EP8 EP09

MODULE V: CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIN PAID JOB OR BUSINESS ACTIVITY) in the last 7 days

(For all household members of age 14 years and above); include secondary job/business

Now I would like to ask you questions about activities done in the last 7 days.

ID

Person

In the main job/ business that you had

during the last 7 days, what kind of work

do you usually do?

(e.g.: Policeman, primary school teacher,

registered nurse, domestic worker, truck

driver)

What are your main tasks or duties?

In this job are you?

Working for someone else for pay

1. Employee 2. Paid apprentice / intern

Working as an

3. Employer (with regular

employees)………….……AC11

4. Own-account worker (without regular

employees) ….…...AC11 5. Contributing family worker (helping

without pay in a household / family

business)……………..…..AC11

6. Other specify..….…….…...AC11

Are you employed on

the basis of…

1. Written contract

2. Oral agreement

3. No contract …AC8

Is your contract /

agreement?

1. Permanent (without

duration limit) … AC8

2. Temporary

Why is your contract / agreement temporary?

1. Chain contract (renewable)

2. Probation period

3. Apprenticeship, internship

4. Specific service or task

5. Seasonal work

6. Occasional/daily work

7. Work as a

replacement/substitute

8. Public employment

Programmed

9. For chance to negotiated or

change new job

10. Other

(Please specify):……..

Occupation title Description LSCO

Code*

AC1 AC2 AC3 AC4 AC5 AC6

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

* Lao PDR Standard Classification of Occupations (at office or by supervisor)

ID

Person

What is the duration of your

contract/agreement?

1. Daily contracts/agreements

2. Less than 1 month

3. 1 mo. to less than 3 months



6. 12 months and above

Does your employer pay contributions for social security on his/her behalf?

(Should refer to any nationally available social security scheme; paid by the employer)

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know

Do you get paid annual

leave or payment for leave

not taken?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know

Do you get paid sick leave or

compensation in case of

illness or injury?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know

What is the name and location

of your place of work?

1. If Name & location exist,

please write name & location

2. Domestic worker in

private household….AC19

3. Without name

What are the main goods or services produced at your place of work or its main function?

(e.g.: Selling fish, teaching children to read and write,

caring for the sick, livestock farming)

Pleasae specify

LSIC

Code*

AC7 AC8 AC9 AC10 AC11

AC12

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

ID

Person

Was your main activity carried out in?

1. Government ……………………… AC18

2. State-owned enterprise…………… AC18

3. Private business or farm

4. International org./ foreign embassy. AC18

5.Non-profit institutions...................... AC18

6. Individual household …………….. AC18

7.Other (specify)

What type of enterprise/business where you work?

1. An incorporated company

.…………………..AC18

2. An independent, personal/

family business

3. Don’t know

Is the business registered

with (relevant authority)?

1. Yes

2. In the process of being

registered

3. No

4. Don’t Know

Does the business keep a

book of accounts (assets and

expenditures)?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Don't know

How many persons,

including the owner, work

at your place of work?

1. Less than 4

2. 5-9

3. 10-49

4. 50-99

5. 100 and above

In what type of place do you usually

work?

1. At home

2. Structure attached to the home

3. At the client/employer's home

4. At an office, shop factory, or other

fixed place of work

5. Fixed stall in market / street

6. Land, forest, river, ...

7. Without fixed location / mobile

8. Construction site

9. Other (specify):………..


AC18 01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

ID

Person

How long have you

worked for this

employer/in this

business?

1. Less than 6 months

2. 6 months to less than 1

year

3. 1 year to less than 3

years

4. 3 years to less than 5

years

5. 5 years to less than 10

years

6. 10 years or more

CHARACTERISTICS OF SECONDARY PAID JOB/BUSINESS ACTIVITY

(In current varied living

conditions, people tend to

carry out a secondary activity

in addition to the main one).

Did you have any secondary

business or performed any

second (permanent,

occasional/exceptional)

activity for at least 1 hour

during the last 7 days, even

for non-essential income in

cash or in kind?

1. Yes

2. No………WT1

In the second job/business that

you had during the last 7 days,

what kind of work do you

usually do?

(e.g: Interviewer, tuition

teacher, food deliverer, salesman

etc)

What are your main tasks or duties? In your second job, are you?

Working for someone else for

pay

1. Employee

2. Paid apprentice / intern

Working as an

3. Employer (with regular

employees

4. Own-account worker

(without regular

employees)

5. Contributing family

worker (helping without

pay in a

household / family

business)

6. Other ( specify):……….

What is the name and

location of your place of

work?

1. If Name & location exist,

please write name &

location

2. Domestic worker in

private

household.…..WT1

3. Without name

What are the main goods or

services produced at your

place of work or its main

function?

(e.g.: Selling fish, teaching

children to read and write,

caring for the sick,

livestock farming…)

Occupation title Description

LSCO

Code

Description

LSIC

Code


AC24 AC25 01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

MODULE VI: WORKING TIME (WT)


ID

Person

Interviewer: at the end, add totals and

confirm with respondent

How many hours do you usually work per

week in your...

Interviewer: at the end, add totals and confirm with respondent

Thinking about all the last 7 days, how many hours did you actually worked in your …

Interviewer:

The total hours actually

worked in the last 7 days is

EQUAL to the total hours

usually worked per week?

1. Yes ……………..WT05

2. No, worked more than

usual hours

3. No, worked less than

usual hours

During the last 7 days, why did you actually work more or less than your usual hours of work per week?

1. Variable working time/ nature of work (shift work, flexible hours)

2. Contractual hours (part-time job, government job)

3. Increase in workload, high workload during the last days

4. To have a higher income

5. Days off, holidays, annual leave, special leave

6. Personal, family reasons, family responsibilities

7. Illness, injuries, etc.

8. Reduction in clients or orders, lack of raw material/ energy, etc.

9. Schooling or training

10. Strike or labour dispute

11. Start/End/Change of jobs

12. Seasonal work, low season

13. Bad weather, natural disaster

14. Other (specify): _______________________________

During the last 30 days, did you look for additional or other paid work or business for profit?

1. Yes

2. No

a.

Main job

b.

Second

job

c.

Other

job(s)

Total

a.

Main job

b.

Second

job

c.

Other

job(s)

Total

Hours Hours

Hours

Hours Hours Hours Hours Hours

WT01 WT02 WT03 WT04 WT05 01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

ID

Person

Would you want to

work more hours per

week than usually

worked, provided the

extra hours are paid?

1. Yes

2. No………… WT09

If an opportunity for additional work became

available, could you start working more hours

within the next 2 weeks?

1. Yes

2. No…………. WT09

How many additional

hours could you work

per week?

(Write total number of

additional hours in all

jobs)

Do you want to change your current

employment situation?

1. Yes

2. No… ERI01 (NEXT SECTION)

What is the main reason why you want to change

current employment situation?

1. Present job(s) is/are temporary

2. To have better paid job

3. To have more clients/business

4. To work more hours

5. To work fewer hours

6. To better match skills

7. To work closer to home

8. To improve other working conditions

9. Other (specify):……….

WT06 WT07 WT08 WT09 WT10

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

MODULE VII: EMPLOYMENT RELATED INCOME (ERI)

A. For employers and own-account workers, and others who are not paid employees/interns (i.e. if AC3 = 3, 4, or 6) (For all household members of age 14 years* and above, who are in employment)

ID

Person

Last month, how much did you make in

net profit, from your main

business or activity?

That is, after considering all the sales and

deducting all expenses?

Last month, did you take any products from your main business or activity for the household’s own use?

1. Yes

2. No……………….…… ERI04

3. Don’t know/ refused … ERI04

If one had to purchase those products, how much would they have cost?

(Please round up)

Last month, how much did you receive in additional income or earnings from any secondary activity (regular, occasional/ exceptional, etc.)?

(Please estimate the total for all secondary activities, and round up)

Interviewer please go to next section (Module 9 OPW1)

ERI01 ERI02 ERI03 ERI04 01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

MODULE VII: EMPLOYMENT RELATED INCOME (ERI)

B. For employees and paid Apprenticeship/ interns (i.e. if AC3 = 1 or 2) (For all household members of age 14 years* and above, who are in employment)

ID

Person

The last time you were paid

in your main job, were you

paid in cash such as salaries,

wages, commissions,

bonuses or tips?

1. Yes

2. No, paid in kind only

……………. ERI10

3. Not paid at all

……….….... ERI10

How much did you

receive the last time

you were paid?

(Please round up)

What period did this

payment cover?

1. Piece rate or one-time

payment …...... ERI10

2. One day …….. ERI10

3. One week

4. Two weeks

5. One month

6. Others

How many days

did you work in

your main job

during that

period?

On average,

how many

hours did you

work per day

in your main

job during

that period?

Does your employer

provide you with …?

(Please write all that

apply)

1. Housing

2. Food and/or

drinks

3. Transport

(vehicle, fuel, bus

ticket)

4. Clothing (other

than uniforms)

5. Others

6. None … ERI14

If one had to

purchase those

products, how

much would

they have cost?

(Please round

up)

Did you

have to pay

any amount

to receive

these goods?

1. Yes

2. No.ERI14

How much did

you pay?

(Please round

up)

Last month, how

much did you

receive in

additional

income or

earnings from

any secondary

activity (regular,

occasional/

exceptional,

etc.)?

(Please estimate

for all secondary

activities, and

round up)

Interviewer please go to next section (Module 9, SPW1)

ERI05 ERI06 ERI07 ERI08 ERI09 ERI10 ERI11 ERI12 ERI13 ERI14

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

MODULE VIII: JOB SEARCH AND AVAILABILITY (Unemployment – UE)

(For all household members of age 14 years* and above, who are not in employment)

ID

Person

During the last 30 days, did you

look for any kind of paid job or try

to start any kind of business?

1. Yes……………..UE3

2. No

Have you already found a job or arranged to start a business in the future?

1. Yes…….…..UE4

2. No…………UE7

What did you do in the last 30 days to find a job

or start a business?

(multiple choose)

1. Applied to prospective employers

2. Placed/answered job advertisements

3. Registered with Employment Centre

4. Registered with private recruitment offices

5. Took a test or interview

6. Sought help from relatives, friends, others

7. Checked at factories, work sites

8. Waited on the street to be recruited

9. Sought financial help to start a business

10. Looked for land, building, equipment,

materials to start a business

11. Applied for permit or license to start a

Business

12. Social media, reading in newspapers

employment vacancy announcements

13. Other (specify):……………

14. No method………………UE7

What kind of job were you

looking?

1. Wage employment

2. Self-employment…UE6

3. Any job…………...UE6

What kind of working

time arrangement were

you looking for?

1. Only full-time

2. Only part-time

3. Any working time

arrangement

For how long have you been without

work and trying to find a paid job or

start a business?

1. Less than 1 month …….…UE9

2. 1 month to less than 3

Months…………………….UE9






Months……………….……UE9

6. 24 months or more……….UE9

UE1 UE2 UE3 UE4 UE5

UE6 01

02

ID

Person

Would you want to work

if a job or business

opportunity became

available?

1. Yes

2. No………...UE10

What is the main reason why you did not try to find

a paid job or start a business in the last 30 days?

1. Waiting for results of a previous search

2. Waiting for season to work

3. Waiting to be recalled to former job

4. Tired of looking for work, no jobs in area

5. No jobs matching skills, lacks experience

6. Considered too young/old by employers

7. Look for work oversees employment

8. In studies, training

9. Family / household responsibilities

10. Family member(s) consider that you should stay

at home

11. Engaged in a subsidiary agri - production for

family use

12. Other sources of income

13. Disability, injury, illness

14. Other(specify)…………………………

If (a/the) job or business

opportunity became

available..,

1. You could have started

working during the last 7

days ………………UE11

2. You could have started

within the next 15

days. …………..….UE11

3. Not available

What is the main reason why you

are not available to start working

in the next two weeks?

1. In studies, training, attend

educational or upgrading courses

2. Family responsibilities

(including maternity leave)

3. Ilness injury

4. Pensioner

5. Voluntary inactive

6. Family member(s) consider that

s/he should stay at home

7. Other

(specify)…………………………

What were

your main

occupation

before

unemployed ?

(Do you have

work before

your

unmeployed

Yes

No

Main work you did

before you were

unemployed?

(LSCO for field

supervisor use;

Use 000000 for never

employed)

What were the main (economic) activity,, or

what were the goods or services produced at

your last work place?

(LSIC for field supervisor use;

Use 00000 for never employed)

UE7 UE8 UE9 UE10 UE11a UE11b LSCO UE12 LSIC

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

MODULE IX: OWN-USE PRODUCTION WORK, OF GOODS AND SERVICES (OPW)

(For ALL household members of age 14 years* and above)

ID

Person

In the last 7 days, did you do any of the following activities to

produce foodstuff intended mainly for consumption by the

household or family? If so how many hours did you spend on

such activity during the last 7 days?

Interviewer:

If yes please fill in the total number of hours per week;

If all have 0 hours please go to OPW07

In general, do you sell any part of the products obtained from these activities?

1. No, never sell …OPW7

2. Yes, sell excess from time to time

3. Yes, regularly sell part of the products

About how much do you usually or intend to sell?

1. Less than half

2. More than half

Which type of animals or products mainly for use or consumption by

the household were you working on?

(e.g.: fish, cows, chicken, corn, potatoes, taro, maize, cassava, broken rice, vegetables and green plant material, rice, etc.)

In the last 7 days, did you prepare foodstuff for storage, such as fish paste, dried fish, dried mango, wine, bamboo shoots, etc. intended mainly for consumption by the household or family?

1. Yes,

Write the number of hours spent on these activities during the last 7 days

2. No,

Write 0 hours

Cultivate land or a

kitchen garden for

crops, vegetables or

fruits, including

planting, tending,

harvesting, etc.?

(Hrs)

Grow fodder, tend livestock, poultry or other animals for meat, eggs, milk, honey, hides or other products?

(Hrs)

Catch or trap fish,

shellfish or other

water or sea

products for food

or as raw material?

(Hrs)

Please specify

LSIC Code

OPW01 OPW02 OPW03 OPW04 OPW05 OPW06a OPW06b OPW07

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

ID

Person

In the last 7 days, did you make any other goods or crafts exclusively for use by the household or family, such as furniture, pottery, clothing or other textiles, baskets, mats, etc. (excluding foodstuff)?

1. Yes,


2. No,

Write 0 hours

In the last 7 days, did

you fetch water from

natural or other public

sources, such as a well,

river, etc exclusively

for use by the

household or family?

1. Yes,


2. No,

Write 0 hours

In the last 7 days, did you

collect firewood, dung or

other goods to use as fuel

exclusively for use by the

household or family?

1. Yes,


2. No,

Write 0 hours

In the last 7 days, did you do

any construction or major

repair work to the household

premises; for example, build

or expand a room, replace the

roof, put or fix a fence, etc?

1. Yes,


2. No,

Write 0 hours

During the last 7 days, did you spend any time doing unpaid housework, yard work or home maintenance for members of your household or family?

(E.g.: preparing meals, doing the dishes, cleaning the house, doing laundry, cutting the grass, home maintenance and small repairs, household shopping and finance management, etc.)

1. Yes,


2. No,

Write 0 hours

During the last 7 days, did you spend any time providing unpaid care, help or assistance to family members because of a disability, illness, or problems related to old age?

(E.g.: providing personal care to dependent adult members of the family, administering medication, helping them with shopping, banking, visiting relatives, etc.)

1. Yes,


2. No,

Write 0 hours

During the last 7 days, did you spend any time looking after your or your family children?

(E.g.: bathing or active playing with children, taking to school, sports or other activities, tutoring or helping children with homework, advising or talking with teens about their problems, etc.)

1. Yes,


2. No,

Write 0 hours

OPW08 OPW09 OPW10 OPW11 OPW12 OPW13 OPW14

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

MODULE X: OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND ILLNESSES WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS (OSH)

(For ALL household members of age 14 years* and above)

READ: Now I would like to ask you about any accidents you may have had while working in the last 12 months, i.e. since [DATE] to today.

ID

Perso

n

In the last 12 months,

i.e. since [DATE] to

today, were you hurt

in any accident while

working that caused

you any injury or

illness?

(Include accidents

that took place while

commuting to/from

work)

1. Yes

2. No … NEXT

SECTION (SP01)

Did any of the injuries received in the last 12 months, i.e. since [DATE] to today result in you being absent from work or unable to work, for at least one day, apart from the day of the accident?

1. Yes … OSH04

2. No

Did the injuries

seriously restrict

your work or

activities even

though you were

able to work or

not absent from

work?

1. Yes

2. No

How many of these injuries or illnesses did you have in the last 12 months, i.e. since [DATE] to today?

(Interviewer:

Record number of accidents or illnesses below)

In your most serious work accident, what type of injury or illness did you get?

Select the most severe injury

1= Superficial injury

2= Fracture

3= Dislocation, sprain, strain

4= Amputation

5= Concussion, internal injury

6= Acute poisoning or infection

7= Dizziness, headaches

8= Other injury/illness (specify)

Causes of your injuries or illness

1. Fall from high postion

2. Machine operation 3. Hit by fallen things 4. Electric shock 5. Transport 6. Slipery

7. Burn, Corrosion, Scald

8. Accident while

What kind of work were you doing when this accident that resulted to injury/ illness happened?

1= Main job in the last 7 days …………. OSH11

2= Secondary job in the last 7 days .….. OSH11

3= Main job in the last 12 months

9= Other job (specify)

What were your main tasks or duties in this job/activity?

transport for work

9. Other (specify)

Name and short description of the activity

LSCO Code

OSH01 OSH02 OSH03 OSH04 OSH05 OSH6 OSH07 OSH08a OSH08b

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

ID

Person

What is the name and/or type of the establishment / place where you were working?

Examples:

Hotel…

Restaurant, Mekong Grocery Shop, etc.

For Tailoring service for domestic workers in private household, write “domestic service”;

For household farming write “farm”

What is the main activity carried out or main products or services produced at

the workplace where you had the accident?

Examples:

Hotel accommodation, serving cooked meals to clients, retail sell of

groceries, custom tailoring of garments, domestic services cleaning and cooking, growing rice, repair of electrical equipment

Where were you when the accident happened?

1= In usual work area within workplace

2= Another area within workplace

3= In the mobile workplace

4= During work related travel (including commuting)

5 = Others (specify)

How many days were you away from work or unable to work because of the injury?

(Write the number of days.

If never returned to work due to the injury, please write 999.)

In the last 12 months, i.e. since [DATE] to today, have you ever been or felt subjected to any of the following at work or by customers…?

Please choose the MAIN one.

1= Constantly shouted at

2= Repeatedly insulted

3= Beaten /physically hurt

4= Touched or done things to you that you did not want

5= Gender discrimination

6= Ethnic or regional discrimination

7= Discriminated for being of foreign origin

8= Sexual harrassment

9= Others (Specify)

Please specify the activity carried out at the workplace, or

the type of products or services of the workplace

LSIC Code *

OSH09 OSH10a OSH10b OSH11 OSH12 OSH13

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

MODULE XI: SOCIAL PROTECTION COVERAGE, BENEFITS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS (SP)

(For ALL household members of any age and sex)

ID

Person

Do you, or

does [NAME] currently get

benefits from

any form of social

protection

coverage or health

scheme?

1. Yes

2. No … SP07

What MAIN form of social protection scheme do you or does [NAME] get benefits from?

Please indicate only the main social protection scheme that pay benefits directly to you of to any of your household member

1= Health insurance

2= Maternity benefits

3= Employment injury and occupational disease benefits

4= sicknessbenefits

5= Old age/ retirement benefits

6= Death benefits

7= Survivors’ pension/benefits

8= Unemployment benefit

9= Other (Specify)

The last time you were

[NAME was] paid your main social security

benefits, were you paid

in kind or in cash?

1. In cash

2. In kind 3. In both cash and kind

How much did you [NAME] receive the last time you were paid your benefits?

(Please round up)

What period did this payment cover?

1= One-time benefits payment

2= One week

3= Two weeks

4= One month

5= Three months

6= Six months

7= One year

8= Others (Specify)

Which institution does provide the benefits you [NAME] get paid for?

1= National Social Security Fund

2= National Health Insurance Fund (Health Equity Fund)

3= Private social security, pension, or provident fund

4= Private company/ institution, or individual

5= Other (Specify)

Do you, or does [NAME] contribute to, or are you [is NAME] a member of any social protection, social security, provident fund, or health coverage scheme?

1. Yes …SP09

2. No …

Why did not you or did not [NAME] enroll in any social protection scheme programme or provident fund?

(Please write down the response received)

Go to MODULE XII

SP01 SP02 SP03 SP04 SP05 SP06 SP07 SP08

01

02

03

04

05

Who or which institution does pay the social security or pension contributions for you [NAME]?

1= My household

2= Myself as employee

3= Myself as self-employed

4= Employer

5= Government institution/ social assistance scheme

6= Other (Specify)

Where/ which institution are your [are NAME’s] social security contributions paid to?

1= National Social Security Fund

2= National Health Insurance Fund (Health Equity Fund)

3= Private social security, health insurance

4= Private company/institution

5= Other (Specify)

SP09 SP10

MODULE XII: LABOUR MIGRATION A- MIGRATION, MIGRANT WORKERS & RETURNS (Module LMA)

(For ALL household members of any age)

ID

Person

Where were you

[was NAME] born?

1= In this

village …

LMA05

2= In another

village in this

province …

LMA05

3= In another

province

4= In another

country ……

LMA02c

What is the name of the

village and province where

you were [NAME was]

born?

What is the name

country where you were

[NAME was] born?

When you were [was NAME] born, was this place urban or rural?

1= Urban

2= Rural

3= Don’t know/ don’t remember

What was the main reason for you [for NAME] to leave the birth place?

1= In search of job for pay

2= In search of establishing a business

3= To take up a new job

4= Job transfer

5= Study/Training

6= Marriage

7= Family moved/ to live with a relative/dependant

8= Health reasons

9= Natural disaster/ environment

10= Conflict

11= Others (specify)

Have you [has NAME] ever lived anywhere else in another province or country than this province continuously for 12 months or more?

1 = Yes, in another province

2 = yes, in another country

LMA06C

3= No, except my birth place … LMA09

4= No … LMA10

In which province or did you [did NAME] live before moving to this village/province?

In which country did you [did NAME] live before moving to this village/province?

Was this place where you [NAME] lived before, urban or rural?

1= Urban

2= Rural

3= Don’t know/ don’t remember

What was the main reason for you [for NAME] to move here?

1= In search of job for pay

2= In search of establishing a business

3= To take up a new job

4= Job transfer

5= Study/Training

6= Marriage

7= Family moved/ to live with a relative/ dependant

8= Health reasons


10= Conflict


Name of the village and province

Province/

Country code

name of country

Province/ Country code

Name of the village

and province

Province code

name of the country

Country code

LMA01 LMA02a LMA02b LMA02c LMA02d LMA03 LMA04 LMA05 LMA06a LMA06b LMA06c LMA06d LMA07 LMA08

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

ID

Person

In what month and year did you [did NAME]

last move to live in this current place of

residence?

Interviewer:

Use 2 digits for the month and 4 digits for

the year;

Record 00 if the month is unknown

What is your [NAME's] current

nationality?

Interviewer:

Please check the countries code list

provided, and write the name of the

country and the code indicated

Have you [has NAME] ever travelled abroad, even if only for a

short period?

1= Yes

2= No

….. LMA32

When did you [did NAME] last return from abroad (please provide month and

year)?

Interviewer:

Use 2 digits for the month and 4 digits

for the year;


In which country were you [was NAME] last?

Interviewer:

Please check the code list provided, and write the name of

the country and the code indicated

What was the main reason for you [NAME] going abroad in

that country?

1= In search of job for pay …………... LMA18

2= In search of establishing a business ….... LMA18

3= To take up a new job …….…….. LMA18

4= Job transfer ….. LMA18

5= Study/Training

6= Marriage

7= Family moved/ to live with a relative/ dependant

8= Health reasons


10= Conflict


During this last trip, did you

[NAME] also work or look for

work there?

1= Yes …………

……….. LMA18

2= No

Did you [NAME] make any other

trip abroad in the last twelve months

and worked or looked for work while abroad?

1= Yes

2= No .… LMA32

Month (MM)

Year

(YYYY)

Country name Country

code

Month (MM)

Year

(YYYY)

Country name Country code

LMA09a LMA09b LMA10a LMA10b LMA11 LMA12a LMA12b LMA13a LMA13b LMA14 LMA15 LMA16

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

ID

Person

To which country did you [did NAME]

last travel where you [he/she] worked or

looked for work?

Interviewer:

Please check the countries code list

provided, and write the name of the

country and the code indicated

In the past 12 months, how many times did you [did NAME] travel

1= Every day

......... LMA20

2= Every week

3= Few times a month

4= Once every month

5= Few times a year

6= Only travelled once/ once a year

When travelling abroad, how long do you [does NAME] usually stay there?

1= One week or less

2= More than 1 week but less than 1 month

3= 1 month to less than 3 months

4= 3 months to less than 6 months

5= 6 months to less than 12 months

6= 12 months or more

About how much did you [did NAME] earn in a month on your [his/her] last trip abroad?

Please assess earnings only for the last trip where [NAME] worked abroad.

What was your [NAME’s] main occupation, or main tasks and activities abroad during your last trip or your last job abroad where you worked?

Referring to the last work abroad, how did you [did NAME] obtain this work?

1= Job transfer

2= Registered and got the job from a government agency

3= Registered and got the job from a private recruitment/ employment agency

4= Through relatives

5= Through friends

6= Applied from newspapers or websites

9= Other (Specify)

How much did it cost you [cost NAME] to travel to the country for the work, and to come back home at the end of the job?

Please include costs for buses, train, taxis, and other travel costs

(Please round up; write 0 if no travel costs paid)


code

In cash, salary, bonuses, and other commissions

In kind, please estimate the monthly value

Occupation or main tasks/ activities LSCO* code

LMA17a LMA17b LMA18 LMA19 LMA20a LMA20b LMA21a LMA21b LMA22 LMA23

01

02

03

04

05

06

13

14

ID

Person

Did you [did NAME] pay any fees to the recruitment agency, relatives, friends, or any other broker to obtain the job?

1= Yes

2= No

… LMA26

How much did you [did NAME] pay?

(Please round up)

From where did you [did NAME] get the money you [he/she] paid to obtain the job?

1= Personal savings

2= Assistance from family/ relatives

3= Assistance from government agency

4= Assistance from private agency

5= Assistance from caritative institutions/ NGOs

6= Contracted a personal loan

7= Loan by the recruitment agency

8= Other (Specify)

Did you [did NAME] spend any other expenses to prepare the trip, such as passport, visa, insurance and other medical coverage?

1= Yes

2= No

… LMA29

How much did these other expenses cost in total?

(Please round up)

Were there other benefits paid by the recruiting agency, the broker, or by the employer?

E.g.: Food, accommodation during travel, medicine/ medical care, travel expenses, etc.

1= Yes

2= No

..… LMA31

If you [NAME] had to pay yourself [him-/herself] these other benefits, approximately how much all these would have cost you [NAME]?

(Please round up)

During the time you were [NAME was] working abroad in your [his/her] last job, did you keep your identity documents such as the passport with you?

1= Yes, with me

2= No, passport kept by the agency

3= No, passport kept by the employer

4= Other (Specify)

Have you [has NAME] received any money or goods from abroad in the past 12 months?

1= Yes, cash only ………….. LMA34

2= Yes, goods only

3= Yes, both cash and goods

4= No, .…...….

…..Next person (ED)

For the goods you [NAME] received, if one had to purchase these goods, how much would they have costed?

(Please round up)

How much in total did you [did NAME] receive in cash from abroad during the last 12 months?

(Please round up)

Next person (ED)

LMA24 LMA25 LMA26 LMA27 LMA28 LMA29 LMA30 LMA31 LMA32 LMA33 LMA34

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

MODULE XII: LABOUR MIGRATION B- HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS LIVING ABROAD (ABSENTEES- Module LMB)

(For ALL household members of age any age)

The following questions should be asked about members of the household who are living at present in another country, i.e. former members of this household who left and are living abroad for more than 6 months, or intend to live abroad for more than 6 months.

LMB0 Are there any members of this household who have left to live abroad for more than six months, or intend to live abroad for more than 6 months?

1= Yes 2= No ……….END OF THE INTERVIEW

ID

Person

Name and surname

of household

members

Interviewer:

List all persons first, before

starting interviews for each of

them separately

.

What is [NAME] relationship with the head of this household?

2= Husband/wife

3= Son / Daughter

4= Son / Daughter in law

5= Parent/Parent in law

6= Grandchild

7= Other relative

8= Non-relative

What is [NAME] sex?

1= Male

2= Female

How old is [NAME] currently

Interviewer:

Record the age in completed years.Write 00 if less than one year of age.

In which month and year did [NAME] leave the country?

Interviewer:

Use 2 digits for the month and 4 digits for the year;


What was [NAME] highest educational level completed at the time when (he/she) left the country?

1= No grade

2= Primary

3= Lower secondary

4= Upper secendary

5= Non-standard curriculum

6= Vocation education first level

7= Vocation education middle level

8 = Vocation education high level

9 = Graduage-degree holder

10= post graduate-master’s degree

11= Hiher than post graduate

12 = Don’t know

In which country is [NAME] currently living?

Interviewer:

Please check the countries code list provided, and write the name of the country and the code indicated

What was the main reason for [NAME] to travel to live abroad?

1= In search of job for pay ……………….. LMB11

2= In search of establishing a business ……….…. LMB11

3= To take up a new job…. LMB11

4= Job transfer …….… LMB11

5= Study/Training

6= Marriage

7= Family moved/ to live with a relative/dependant

8= Health reasons


10= Conflict


Month (MM)

Year (YYYY)


code

ID

Person

Since leaving, has [NAME] worked or looked for work abroad?

1= Yes … LMB11

2= No

Did [NAME] make any other trip abroad in the last twelve months and worked or looked for work while abroad?

1= Yes

2= No .… LMB12

3= Don’t know …… ……LMB12

To which country [NAME] last travelled where [he/she] worked or looked for work?

Interviewer:

Please check the countries code list provided, and write the name of the country and the code indicated

Did [NAME] send any money or goods to the household during the last 12 months, i.e. since (DATE) till today?

1= Yes, cash only ……………….. LMB14

2= Yes, goods only

3= Yes, both cash and goods

4= No, .…...……..

…….. LMB16

For the goods that [NAME] sent to the household, if one had to purchase these goods, how much would they have costed?

(Please round up)

How much did [NAME] send in cash from abroad to the household during the last 12 months, i.e. since (DATE) till today?

(Please round up)

By which main channel did [NAME] send the money to the household?

Please indicate the commonly or the most used channel in the last 12 months.

1= Bank

2= Post

3= Recruitment agency

4= Relatives/ friends

5= Other (Specify)

Is [NAME] likely to return back home to this household,or return back in this country?

1= Yes

2= No ……

……. END

3= Don’t know …….

……. END

If yes, in which month and which year is [NAME] planned to return home or back in this country?

Interviewer:

Use 2 digits for the month and 4 digits for the year;



code

(if answer 2 ‘yes,

goods only’ in

LMB12 record

‘00’)

Month (MM)

Year (YYYY)

LMB09 LMB10 LMB11a LMB11b LMB12 LMB13 LMB14 LMB15 LMB16 LMB17a LMB17b

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

ID

Person

I would like again to confirm with you: is [NAME] currently working abroad?

1= Yes

2= No

......... END

3= Don’t know

......... END

About how much does [NAME] earns in a month on her/his current work abroad?

What is [NAME’s] current main occupation, or main tasks and activities abroad?

How did [NAME] obtain this work?

1= Job transfer

2= Registered and got the job from a government agency

3= Registered and got the job from a private recruitment/ employment agency

4= Through relatives

5= Through friends

6= Applied from newspapers or websites

9= Other (Specify)

How much did it cost to [NAME] to travel to the country where he/she is currently working?

Please include costs for buses, train, taxis, and other travel costs

(Please round up; write 0 if no travel costs paid)

How much did [NAME] pay for fees if any, to the recruitment agency, relatives, friends, or any other broker to obtain the job?

(Please round up; write 0 if no recruitment costs paid)

How much did [NAME] spend if any, for other expenses to prepare the trip, such as passport, visa, insurance and other medical coverage?

(Please round up; write 0 if no other costs paid)

Were there any benefits paid by the recruiting agency, the broker, or by the employer?

E.g.: Food, accommodation during travel, medicine/ medical care, travel expenses, etc.

If so, how much woul these have cost you?

In cash, salary, bonuses, and other commissions

In kind, please estimate the monthly value

Occupation or main tasks/ activities

LSCO* code

(Please round up; write 0 if no benefits received from the employer or recruitment agency)

LMB18 LMB19a LMB19b LMB20a LMB20b LMB21 LMB22 LMB23 LMB24 LMB25

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

Ministry of Planning and Investment, Lao statistics Bureau,

Dongnasokneua Village, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane Capital

E_mail: [email protected] Tel: (+85621) 214740, Fax: (+86521) 242022

Survey Finding Report - lmi.molsw.gov.la force_report 22 june_ENG.pdf · the Lao Statistics Bureau in cooperate with Ministry of Labor and Welfare has conducted the Lao Labor Force

Documents