EL EMPLEO INFORMAL EN COSTA RICA: CARACTERÍSTICAS DE LOS OCUPADOS Y SUS PUESTOS DE TRABAJO

Abstract

This article aims to estimate which characteristics of workers have incidence on the probability of informal employment, using a model for binary dependent variables. It analyzes labor market dynamics through Quarterly Labor Surveys. It was determined that informal employment has a growing trend in the last quarters of the studied period. A higher level of informality is associated with nonpermanent jobs and occasional activities. Moreover, the estimated logit model suggests that women, not household heads, older and rural residents, are more likely to have an informal job. By contrast, a higher level of education, which is also associated with professional activities or skilled occupations, implies a lower probability of informal employment.