• http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0005379

Urquidi, Manuel, et al. (2024). Survey of firms in intermediate urban areas on the labor market in Bolivia: 2022. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/x1ay7ke2

1. Spanish

What does the Bolivia labor force by occupation dataset include?

This dataset captures detailed information on the Bolivian labor force by occupation across 25 intermediate and small cities. It contains data from companies, current workers, and students in their final year of secondary school, providing a comprehensive picture of labor demand, employment conditions, and future workforce expectations.

What are the main employment sectors in Bolivia’s intermediate cities?

The 2022 data show that commerce, services, and manufacturing dominate employment in Bolivia’s intermediate urban areas. More minor but significant shares are found in construction, transport, education, and agriculture, reflecting the country’s diverse economic base.

How has the Bolivian labor force changed since 2017?

Compared to the 2017 baseline, the post-pandemic labor force is more urbanized and service-oriented. There has been growth in digital and technical occupations, while traditional roles in manufacturing and construction have remained stable. Female participation has increased slightly, particularly in commerce and education.

What is the structure of employment by occupation?

Employment remains concentrated in sales, skilled trades, technical services, and plant operations.

Informal employment is prevalent in service and retail occupations, whereas formal wage jobs predominate in manufacturing, healthcare, and education. The dataset disaggregates results by occupation type, firm size, and gender.

How large is Bolivia’s informal sector?

Informality continues to account for a significant share of Bolivia’s labor market, particularly in small cities. Many workers lack written contracts or social protection, particularly in commerce, transport, and agriculture. The survey identifies informality as both a survival strategy and a structural feature of regional economies.

What are the key challenges facing young workers in Bolivia?

Students in their last year of high school express optimism about future employment but face financial, geographic, and training barriers. Many intend to pursue technical education but lack access to local training programs that align with employer needs.

Which factors influence Bolivia’s occupational structure?

Regional specialization, firm size, and access to training play significant roles.

Urban centers with more extensive service infrastructure exhibit higher occupational diversity and higher educational attainment, whereas smaller cities tend to be dominated by manual, agricultural, and retail occupations.

What does the dataset reveal about gender and occupation?

The 2022 results show continued gender segmentation in the labor market.

Women are overrepresented in education, health, and services, while men dominate in construction, transport, and mining.

Wage gaps persist, particularly among skilled and semi-skilled workers.

How does this dataset help identify training and skills gaps?

The EMLB includes indicators of technical and digital skill proficiency, employer training needs, and student career preferences. This enables the identification of mismatches between educational supply and occupational demand, supporting evidence-based workforce planning.

How can researchers and policymakers use this data?

The dataset can be used to: - Analyze Bolivia’s labor market by occupation and region
- Identify skills shortages and training opportunities
- Design targeted employment programs in intermediate cities
- Compare post-pandemic labor trends with prior data from 2017