Fewer Jobless in Mekong Countries, But Vulnerable Employment Is High

Countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion are close to full employment. However, workers in vulnerable jobs are alarmingly high.

Citing the International Labour Organization’s World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2018, the Nikkei Asian Review reported that the unemployment rate in Cambodia was at 0.2% in 2017, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) at 0.7%, Myanmar at 0.8%, Thailand at 1%, and Viet Nam at 2.1%.

Released on 22 January 2018, the ILO report said unemployment in Asia is low in general, and the region is “expected to continue to create jobs at a fast rate." It noted however that many workers in Asia are in vulnerable employment.

This is true for Cambodia with five in 10 workers in vulnerable jobs. In the Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet  Nam, the vulnerable employment rate is from 47% to 58%.

Those in vulnerable jobs include the self-employed and contributing family workers, who are less likely to have formal work arrangements.

Read the full article at Nikkei Asian Review.