Among the countries with available information, Bolivia had the highest share of employment informality, amounting to almost 85 percent of the total employed population. This means that more than three out of every four workers in Bolivia were informally employed in that year. With data from 2024, Chile was one of the countries with the lowest share of informal employment in the region, with around 27.46 percent of the employed population being informally employed.

The average for 2020 based on 19 countries was 41.6 percent. The highest value was in Bolivia: 64.2 percent and the lowest value was in Chile: 19.4 percent. The indicator is available from 1993 to 2020. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Bolivia and Guatemala were some of the Latin American countries with the highest informal employment rates in the construction sector in 2023. Over ** percent of the construction workers in those countries were informal. Jamaica was the country with the lowest informal construction employment rate. Panama was one of the countries in Latin America with the most construction workers as a share of total employment in cities.

The average for 2019 based on 10 countries was 55.4 percent. The highest value was in Bolivia: 84.9 percent and the lowest value was in Uruguay: 23.9 percent. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2020. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Project Summary: Street vendors are commonly considered to be prototypical informal workers in Latin America, escaping compliance with the state regulation of trade. Yet vendors with fixed posts in densely concentrated commercial areas belie the conventional dichotomous concept of formality/informality, as their activities are, in fact, regulated. Indeed, fixed-post vendors in central-city streets are engaged in a constant process of negotiating the terms of their engagement with the state. In the case of street vendors in Lima, negotiations over legal status and access to public space are a source of ongoing conflict between them and state officials, who pursue conflicting strategies of partial formalization throughout the era of neoliberal transition. This project explores the political roots of regulation in the informal economy, showing how policy contradictions at different levels of the state, and conflicts among street-vending organizations, produce a system of partial formalization. The research design for this project was organized around two main comparisons: (1) a comparison of the politics of street vending in two areas of commercial concentration in Lima; and (2) an over-time comparison of a single area, the garment district of Gamarra, over the course of three municipal administrations. Data Abstract: The over-time comparison spans three municipal administrations (1992- 2002) in the district of La Victoria, where Gamarra is located. Among other data sources, the over-time comparison is based on an archive collected between October 2011 and September 2012, comprising over 1,000 pages on the evolution of street commerce in La Victoria, constructed over the course of a year of fieldwork. The archive includes newspaper clippings, magazines, newsletters, fliers, records from various street vending organizations in the district, records from attempts to implement key regulations in the mid-1990s, and a wealth of other materials that shed light on all dimensions of the politics of street vending. These data collectively form the only written record of the politics of street vending in the district chosen for study. In the case of by-laws, a small subset (ordinances only) are published in the official record (El Peruano), but other by-laws – including city council resolutions, mayoral decrees, etc. – were not published or archived by the district administration at the time of the research. In the case of street vending organizations, internal documents either do not typically exist or are not archived in any one place. Likewise, background documents relating to street trade – such as party platforms and newspaper clippings – are not typically centralized. The archive compiled as part of this project therefore represents a crucial counterpoint to the observational data collected through other means. Files Description: The sources were organized into three main categories: laws and by-laws; organizations; and background documents. Within each category the documents collected were photocopied and organized chronologically around municipal administrations (1992-1995; 1995-1998; 1998-2002) to facilitate content analysis. A conventional content analysis approach was then used to analyze the archive. Coding categories were derived directly from the text and used to construct a database in Microsoft Access.

In 2024, the percentage of informal employment in Colombia stood at 56.14 percent of the total employed population. The share of employment informality has decreased in comparison to 2010, when 68.07 percent of workers were considered informally employed. Colombia is one of the Latin American countries with the highest level of informal employment.

In 2023, the percentage of informal employment in Brazil stood at 37 percent of the total employed population. This means that almost two fifths of workers in the country are considered informally employed. Neighboring Uruguay has one of the lowest rates of employment informality in Latin America.

Leftist governments with strong links to organized labor are expected to increase the number of people protected by job security rules. But do they? I explore whether the Left in power at the local level in Brazil cracks down on enterprises that employ non-contract, informal-sector workers, and implements policies aimed at reducing the size of the informal sector. With a close-election regression-discontinuity design, I show that mayors from the Workers’ Party (PT) in fact slow down enforcement and improve conditions in the informal sector, rather than encouraging a shift to formal jobs. This reflects a challenge that leftist parties face across the world: how to simultaneously improve the employment prospects and conditions of workers in precarious employment and those in full-time jobs in the context of increased global competition, segmented labor markets and, in Latin America, truncated welfare states.

Survey of a nationally representative sample of Mexican adults. (N=1,206). Questions focus on respondents' labor-market traits and social policy attitudes. Interviews occurred in May and June of 2017. Abstract: In Latin America, formal workers (labor insiders) and informal workers (outsiders) tend to be enrolled in distinct welfare programs, so scholars generally assume that a fundamental political cleavage pits insiders against outsiders. According to my original meta-analysis, however, survey-based studies have hitherto shown the two groups to have relatively similar social policy preferences. I seek to reconcile these two scholarly strains by arguing that the insider/outsider binary oversimplifies. Frequent movement by workers between the two sectors and marriages between informal and formal workers endow many with mixed policy interests. Using an original and nationally representative poll of Mexican adults, I show that an insider/outsider attitudinal cleavage does exist but that it is widest between informal and formal workers without mixed interests. I also show how improved survey questions produce stronger relationships between labor traits and attitudes. My findings have implications for the study of social policy coalitions and insider/outsider politics in Latin America and beyond.

Ratio of persons employed in the formal sector relative to the informal sector, selected Latin American countries, 2020.

In 2023, the percentage of informal employment in Argentina stood at 50 percent of the total employed population. The share of employment informality has decreased slightly in comparison to the previous year. Argentina is among the countries with the lowest share of informal employment in Latin America.

Vulnerability of the population The main issues of informal employment are the lack of job security, social security, and the low quality of jobs. All factors heavily impact the vulnerability of the population under such conditions. During the last few years, Argentina increased the share of households under the poverty line, in fact, during the first half of 2024, the percentage exceeded 40 percent of homes, more than double the 2018th rate. Labor force and unemployment During the past four decades, the labor participation rate in Argentina has been significantly higher among the male population than their female counterparts. For males, around 70 percent of working age people were part of the workforce, while only around half of females did the same. Nevertheless, the unemployment rate has been decreasing considerably, reaching its lowest point in 2023 since at least 2004.

In 2024, the percentage of informal employment in Peru stood at 72.1 percent of the total employed population. This means that over two thirds of Peruvian workers were considered informally employed. Although this percentage decrease in comparison to the previous year, Peru is still one of the Latin American countries with the highest level of informal employment.

In many Latin American countries, social policy preferences among economically vulnerable citizens seem largely unpolarized. However, current studies rarely confront citizens with realistic policy options and often lack the required detail to capture the heterogeneity of economic vulnerability. Drawing on the dualization debate, we expect individuals facing different degrees of vulnerability to show distinct social policy preferences. Using original survey data from Mexico and a conjoint experiment, our findings reveal a complex divide, where the most economically vulnerable are least supportive of public solutions. Sharing the home with a formal labor market participant does not seem to mitigate social policy skepticism among the vulnerable. In contrast, magnified vulnerability via household composition reduces support for welfare policy expansion. Social policy preferences become much less distinct when policy design alternatives are introduced, suggesting reduced expectations about the state’s role and a lack of clarity about the tangible benefits of social policy reform.

In Latin America, the relationship between income and support for redistribution is weak and variable despite the region’s extreme income inequality. This article shows that this condition is rooted in the truncated structure of many Latin American welfare states. Heavy spending on contributory social insurance for formal-sector workers, flat or regressive subsidies, and informal access barriers mean that social spending does far less for the poor in Latin America than in advanced industrial economies. Using public opinion data from across Latin America and original survey data from Colombia, the article demonstrates that income is less predictive of attitudes in the countries and social policy areas where the poor gain less from social expenditures. Social policy exclusion leads the poor to doubt that they will benefit from redistribution, thereby dampening their support for it. This article reverses an assumption in political economy models that welfare exclusion unleashes demands for greater redistribution. Instead, truncation reinforces skepticism that social policy helps the poor. Welfare state reforms to promote social inclusion are essential to strengthen redistributive coalitions.

In 2024, the percentage of informal employment in the Dominican Republic stood at 54.7 percent of the total employed population. The share of employment informality has slightly decreased by one percentage point in comparison to the previous year, when 55.68 percent of workers were considered informally employed. In 2024, the D.R. had a higher level of informal employment than other Latin American countries.

Minimum Viable Relationships (MVR) Framework API: Machine-Readable Relational Readiness for High-Context Markets is a relational-readiness diagnostic system that quantifies trust, embeddedness, guardian endorsement, and permission to operate as prerequisites to product viability (MVP) in high-context, trust-sensitive markets.Originally developed and validated in African entrepreneurial ecosystems (Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria), the framework is designed for universal application in any market where social sanction, informal networks, and relational governance outweigh formal contracts — including parts of Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Indigenous communities, and diaspora economies.This dataset includes:Full MVR theoretical specification (V3, 2025)Computation formulas for core indices:MVR-RV (Relational Viability), MVR-WV (Whisper Velocity), MVR-GD (Guardian Density),MVR-EQ (Embeddedness Quotient), MVR-AS (Absence Sensitivity), MVR-RC (Reciprocity Coefficient)Aggregated MVR Index (MVR-I) with normalization protocolsSecondary indices: MVR-CI (Cohesion), MVR-FT (Fractal Trust), MVR-DRI (Dispute Resilience)Applied tools: MVR Investment Memo, 30-Day MVR Test, Ownership Ladder (MVR-OL)Machine-readable resources: OpenAPI spec, RAG Q&A set, attribution files, LLM compliance guidelines.Note: In Markets where the social sanction risk outweighs the functional risk, MVR Framework must precede MVP.⚖️ License & Usage PolicyAcademic, educational, and non-commercial use: Permitted under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).→ Attribution required:“Minimum Viable Relationships (MVR) by Farouk Mark Mukiibi — https://africanmarketos.com/the-mvr-framework-minimum-viable-relationships/ — DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17054819”Commercial, applied, or diagnostic use: Requires a license or referral agreement, including:AI/LLM integrationSaaS products, consulting, investor due diligenceDashboards, reports, or revenue-generating diagnostics→ Commercial Policy: https://africanmarketos.com/african-market-os-mvr-framework-commercial-referral-use-policy/→ Machine-Readable License: https://africanmarketos.com/.well-known/mvr-license.json→ Licensing Contact: https://africanmarketos.com/consult/📌 Note: The CC BY 4.0 license applies only to the conceptual framework and educational use. Algorithmic implementation, scoring logic, and diagnostic services are proprietary and governed by the Commercial & Referral Use Policy. 🔗 Related Identifiers & LinksCanonical Page: https://africanmarketos.com/the-mvr-framework-minimum-viable-relationships/Zenodo (Concept DOI): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17054819Zenodo (Latest Version): https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17310446GitHub Repository: https://github.com/africanmarketos591/mvr-framework-v3-2025API & Developer Hub: https://africanmarketos.com/mvr-api-integrators/LLM Compliance Hub: https://africanmarketos.com/ai-integrators/Author ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8191-2098Author Profile: https://africanmarketos.com/about-the-author-of-mvr/Contact: info@africanmarketos.comWhatsApp: +256705025617Website: https://africanmarketos.com

Informal Settlement Mapping via Satellite Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the global Informal Settlement Mapping via Satellite market size in 2024 stands at USD 1.32 billion, driven by rapid urbanization and the increasing demand for advanced geospatial intelligence. The market is witnessing a robust CAGR of 14.1% and is forecasted to reach USD 3.76 billion by 2033. Key growth factors include government initiatives for urban planning, disaster risk reduction, and the integration of AI-powered satellite analytics. The sector is evolving rapidly as stakeholders recognize the value of satellite-derived insights for managing and upgrading informal settlements worldwide.

A primary growth driver for the Informal Settlement Mapping via Satellite market is the accelerating rate of global urbanization, particularly in emerging economies across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. As cities expand, informal settlements—often characterized by unplanned development and inadequate access to basic services—are proliferating. Governments and urban planners are increasingly leveraging satellite-based mapping technologies to gain accurate, up-to-date spatial data on these settlements. This data enables more informed decision-making for infrastructure development, resource allocation, and the implementation of sustainable urban policies. The adoption of satellite mapping is further propelled by its ability to cover vast and inaccessible areas, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution compared to traditional ground surveys.

Technological advancements are another significant growth catalyst for the Informal Settlement Mapping via Satellite market. The integration of high-resolution optical imaging, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and multispectral imaging technologies has dramatically improved the accuracy and granularity of settlement mapping. These innovations allow for the detection of subtle changes in land use, the identification of new or expanding informal settlements, and the monitoring of environmental conditions. Additionally, the rise of cloud-based geospatial analytics platforms and AI-driven data processing is enhancing the speed and efficiency of satellite data interpretation. This technological progress is making satellite mapping more accessible to a broader range of stakeholders, including NGOs, research institutes, and government agencies.

Heightened awareness of disaster risk management and climate resilience is also fueling the growth of the Informal Settlement Mapping via Satellite market. Informal settlements are often located in high-risk zones prone to flooding, landslides, and other natural disasters. Accurate mapping through satellite imagery is vital for early warning systems, emergency response planning, and post-disaster assessment. Governments and humanitarian organizations are increasingly investing in satellite-based monitoring to mitigate risks and enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities. This trend is expected to intensify as climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and severity of natural disasters, underscoring the critical role of geospatial intelligence in safeguarding informal settlements.

From a regional perspective, Asia Pacific leads the Informal Settlement Mapping via Satellite market, accounting for a substantial share of global revenues. This dominance is attributed to the region's rapid urbanization, large population base, and significant investments in smart city initiatives. North America and Europe follow closely, driven by advanced technological infrastructure and strong regulatory frameworks supporting satellite data utilization. In contrast, the Middle East & Africa and Latin America are emerging as high-potential markets, propelled by international development aid and increasing government focus on urban development. Each region presents unique challenges and opportunities, shaping the evolution of the market landscape over the forecast period.

Technology Analysis

The technology segment in the Informal Settlement Mapping via Satellite market is defined by continuous innovation and diversification, with optical imaging, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and multispectral imaging technologies leading the way. Optical imaging remains the most widely adopted technology due to its high spatial resolution and ability to capture detailed visual information about surface features. This technol

In 2023, the percentage of informal employment in El Salvador stood at 66.5 percent of the total employed population. The share of employment informality reached its highest level in the study period in 2017, with 70.16 percent, and its lowest in 2023. El Salvador is one of the Latin American countries with the highest levels of informal employment.

Financial Assistance Enrollment Tools Market Outlook

According to our latest research, the Global Financial Assistance Enrollment Tools market size was valued at $2.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $6.7 billion by 2033, expanding at a robust CAGR of 12.8% during 2024–2033. The primary driver behind this remarkable growth is the increasing digital transformation across sectors such as healthcare, education, and government, which is compelling organizations to streamline and automate their financial assistance enrollment processes. This shift not only enhances operational efficiency but also broadens access to critical financial support for individuals in need, thereby fueling the widespread adoption of advanced enrollment tools globally.

Regional Outlook

North America currently commands the largest share of the Financial Assistance Enrollment Tools market, accounting for approximately 38% of the global revenue in 2024. This dominance is attributed to the region’s mature digital infrastructure, high adoption of technology-driven solutions, and robust regulatory frameworks that encourage transparency and accessibility in financial assistance programs. The presence of leading software vendors and a well-established ecosystem of healthcare, educational, and government institutions further accelerates market penetration. Additionally, initiatives such as the Affordable Care Act and various student aid reforms have necessitated the deployment of sophisticated enrollment platforms, pushing the demand for both software and service components in the United States and Canada.

The Asia Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing market, with a forecasted CAGR of 15.6% from 2024 to 2033. This surge is driven by rapid digitalization, increasing investments in public welfare and education, and the proliferation of cloud-based solutions that lower the entry barrier for organizations in developing economies. Countries such as China, India, and Southeast Asian nations are experiencing a wave of policy reforms aimed at improving social safety nets and expanding educational opportunities, which in turn drives demand for efficient enrollment tools. The rising mobile and internet penetration, coupled with the need to serve large, diverse populations, is prompting governments and NGOs to adopt scalable and user-friendly platforms, thereby accelerating market growth in the region.

Emerging economies in Latin America, Middle East, and Africa are witnessing gradual adoption of Financial Assistance Enrollment Tools, though growth is tempered by challenges such as limited digital infrastructure, budget constraints, and regulatory complexities. While governments and NGOs recognize the importance of digital enrollment systems to improve access to aid and streamline administrative processes, localized demand is often shaped by unique socio-economic factors and policy landscapes. In regions where informal economies are prevalent, and digital literacy remains low, adoption rates are slower. However, international aid agencies and technology providers are increasingly partnering with local stakeholders to bridge these gaps, offering tailored solutions that address region-specific needs and compliance requirements.

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