ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the question of the raison 'd'etre' of the informal sector in Vietnam, a component of the country's economy which is as massive and long lasting as it is misunderstood. By checking the socio-demographic characteristics of the individuals, the incomes generated by their work and their working conditions, the study intends to evaluate the value these informal sector jobs have to those who do them, particularly when compared to other types of job. The chapter relies principally on data from the official Labour Force Survey, representative at a national level and carried out by the Vietnam Office of statistics. Once these monetary and non-monetary elements are taken into account, all the institutional non-agricultural sectors remain implacably preferred to the informal sector, with the exception of private domestic enterprises. The chapter confirms that a job satisfaction approach is a fruitful one to appreciate the quality of jobs in Vietnam, and more widely in other developing countries.
