| Resumen: |
Informal employment is a persistent structural feature of labour markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. This type of employment is a complex phenomenon that refers to all jobs outside of state employment regulation and social protection systems and can be found in the informal and formal sectors. According to the International Labour Organization, in 2022, 53·7% of workers in Latin America and the Caribbean region engaged in informal employment, while in North America and Europe (excluding eastern Europe) the figures are 9·6% and 13%, respectively. From a global perspective, informal employment is a major challenge for sustained inclusive economic and social development, 1 but also for public health. Due to the unregulated and unprotected nature of the informal economy, it is difficult to enforce public health actions and to provide access to quality social protection services. 3 This is especially relevant for historically disadvantaged groups, who are more likely to participate in the informal economy than those who have a higher level of education and greater wealth. Those who are less educated, have less wealth, people aged 65 years or more, younger people aged 15–24 years, those living in rural areas, and women are disproportionately employed in the informal economy. Considering the complexity and heterogeneity of informal employment, single-cause explanations for informal employment should be avoided. |
