Ethnic discrimination in the labor market: a case study of Lao PDR

Abstract

This research examines ethnic discrimination in Laos, concentrating on the Hmong minority population. The research employs secondary data from the Lao Labor Force Survey 2017 to examine the gender distribution within the population. The predominant group, Lao-Tai, possesses the highest educational attainment, comprising 52.7% of the population. The Lao-Tai group predominates across all educational tiers, especially in tertiary education, with 81% of the population possessing higher education qualifications. The predominant group possesses the greatest household size, with Lao-Tai exhibiting the highest employment percentage. Although education enhances work opportunities, Hmong persons with advanced degrees are less likely to obtain jobs compared to the predominant ethnic group. This study indicates that education is crucial for enhancing access to formal jobs and social protection; nevertheless, the Hmong community does not fully capitalize on its benefits from.