Between Informality and Self-Employment: How Vulnerable Youth Find Work Outside the Formal System
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Many vulnerable young Argentines are finding work in the informal sector, often through self-employment and online sales.
- A University of Buenos Aires report indicates 75.9% of young vulnerable workers are in informal jobs, with 46.1% in undeclared work and 29.8% in entrepreneurship.
- While informal work provides income, it often involves low-skill positions and long hours, with young people viewing entrepreneurship as a key survival tool.
Agustina, 25, thrives in her current venture, crafting and selling party supplies from home. Unlike previous jobs as a caregiver, cleaner, or nanny – often unregistered – her current work allows her to pursue her passion and be present for her 8-year-old son. "The money I make is quite similar to what I earned when I worked outside. Now I'm saving to buy a computer," she explains, highlighting the financial viability of her home-based business.
The money I make is quite similar to what I earned when I worked outside. Now I'm saving to buy a computer.
Her story reflects a broader trend detailed in a recent University of Buenos Aires report on vulnerable youth aged 18 to 29. The study found that while 69% of these young people are employed, a significant 75.9% operate within the informal economy. This includes 46.1% in undeclared jobs and 29.8% engaged in personal entrepreneurial activities.
Informality is the mechanism through which work is generated. It has ceased to be an exceptional situation to become dominant.
Sociologist Juan Cruz Esquivel, who directed the research, notes that informality has become the dominant mechanism for generating employment, shifting from an exceptional situation to the norm. These roles are often low-skill positions found in local neighborhoods, such as retail assistants, kitchen helpers, delivery drivers, or construction laborers.
A good job is much more than a good income. A good work environment is very important, that you are not mistreated. But the two rarely go together.
"Young vulnerable people have not abandoned work as a path to progress, but the labor market's capacity to incorporate them into quality jobs seems to have weakened," Esquivel observes. He points to the surprising role of online sales, which many young people view not just as a side hustle but as a crucial entrepreneurial tool for survival.
Sometimes I wonder if such a job exists.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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