Replication Data for: Labor Market Analysis: Employment Demand, Skills, and Training Needs in Bolivia

By Social Protection and Labor Markets Division (VPS/SCL/SPL)

This dataset includes data for an analysis of labor demand characteristics and workforce training needs in the metropolitan areas of La Paz-El Alto, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz—large cities in Bolivia (Related publication only available in Spanish). This information is contrasted with a sample from intermediate and small cities in the country. Labor demand data for large cities comes from a survey of companies conducted in 2015 and 2016, while data for intermediate and small cities is derived from a survey conducted between 2016 and 2017. The document presents key findings on the productive characteristics of cities, company profiles, and workforce dynamics, including recruitment and selection processes, employee turnover, reasons for dismissals, training, demand for and valuation of skills, among other factors. Finally, it outlines policy implications for Bolivia’s labor market.

Show more

Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/da1x-sa03
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Related Knowledge Product
Citation

Urquidi, Manuel, et al. (2020). Replication Data for: Labor Market Analysis: Employment Demand, Skills, and Training Needs in Bolivia. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/da1x-sa03

Published date 2020-10-30
Modified date 2026-08-26
Tags/Keywords Labor Demand · Labor Force · Labor Market · Skill Gap · Skills Need
Language
  1. Spanish
Temporal coverage 2015-2017
Country
Bolivia
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Urquidi, Manuel
Ergueta, Amparo
Foronda, Carlos
Chumacero, Mauricio
Calvo, Gisele
Durand, Guillaume
Data collection type Observational Data
Data structure Semistructured Data
Data notes

How are small business owners recruiting for local staff?

Most common recruitment channels: Relatives/friends/known contacts: 55.1%; Radio: 21.0%; Newspapers: 8.8%; Technical institutes: 1.7%; Other methods: 13.4%. In metropolitan areas (La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz): Mass media (newspaper/radio/TV): 40%; Family networks: 19%; Company databases: 15%; Internet: 14%; Private employment agencies: 5%; Hiring former interns: 3%; Unions: 2%; University job boards: 2%. Time to fill vacancies: Non‑qualified workers: 7 days; Qualified workers: 17 days. Origin of most workers: Same community/municipality: 78.4%; Nearby municipality (same department): 13.5%; Other department: 7.1%; Foreign country: 1%. Reasons employers do not hire local labor: Lack of knowledge/skills: 48.8%; Other reasons: 43.9%; High migration of skilled labor: 4.9%; Salary expectations too high: 2.4%. Average number of workers per firm: Large cities: small (6), medium (27), large (209); Small/intermediate cities: small (5.76), medium (22.42), large (194.43).

What are the primary industries for employment in Bolivia?

Percentage of surveyed enterprises by main activity: Services: 42.5%; Commerce: 27.6%; Manufacturing: 14.4%; Agriculture: 10.2%; Other activities: 5.2%.

What internship programs and entry‑level opportunities are available?

Firms with a defined internship program: 76%; Firms that had linked interns: 12.1%; Firms currently hosting interns: 33.96%; Firms planning to convert an intern to permanent staff: 9.1%; Firms planning to take interns the following year: 44.19%.

How are Bolivians finding jobs?

Relatives/friends/connections dominate across all regions and firm types. Agriculture is the most dependent on personal networks (up to 80%). Services, commerce, and manufacturing use a broader mix (radio, newspapers, internet, agencies). Personal networks + radio make up more than 70% of all hiring pipelines in many areas.

How long does it take to fill vacancies?

Qualified roles take 10 additional days compared to non‑qualified roles. Time is longest for skilled roles in: Agriculture (30 days), Commerce (21 days), Services (21 days), Manufacturing (12 days).

Where do the Bolivian workers originate from?

Across nearly all regions and sectors: Local hiring predominates (>75% from the same community). Very low international hiring (≤1%).

What are the reasons for NOT hiring local labor?

Lack of relevant skills is the dominant obstacle nationwide. Other common reasons vary by region: High migration of skilled workers in Valley regions. Salary issues in a minority of cases. Other reasons (logistical, cultural, organizational fit) are frequently cited.

Dataset files

Load more

Additional materials

Load more