Poverty Falls in Laos, but Quality Jobs Remain Scarce

Laos has reduced poverty over the past decade, even through the shocks of COVID-19, high inflation, and a depreciating currency. But the latest poverty profile shows that progress is becoming harder to sustain: too many people still depend on low-skilled unproductive work, the labor force is poorly equipped for the skilled jobs of the future, and disparities across regions and ethnic groups persist.