Timor-Leste Labour Force Survey 2021 - Summary Report
▶Timor-Leste Labour Force Survey 2021 - Summary Report
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Figure 1. Labour force participation rate by sex and region, 2021 (per cent)
45
30
15
الس
Total
Male
Female
1
2
Sex
Region
Source: Timor-Leste Labour Force Survey 2021.
4
5
In regard to the educational attainment of the labour force, almost one-third (30.7 per cent) had no formal
education or had not completed primary schooling. On the other hand, one in six persons (16.8 per cent)
in the labour force had reached the first stage of tertiary education or had completed tertiary schooling.
The share of women in the labour force with less than a primary education was higher relative to men
(33.4 per cent compared to 28.9 per cent, respectively). As well, women (30.3 per cent) in the labour force
were less likely to have completed secondary education compared to men (36.9 per cent).
Moreover, educational qualifications of the labour force varied widely by region. Region 2 and Region
3, for example, had the lowest shares of the labour force with less than a primary education at 24.8 per
cent and 25.5 per cent, respectively. Both regions also had the highest percentages of the labour force
with tertiary schooling. In contrast, Region 4 recorded the largest gaps in the education of its labour
force: 43 per cent had no education or less than a completed primary degree and just 10.8 per cent had
some amount of tertiary education.
Employment and wages
Information on employment from the LFS reveal that employment in 2021 amounted to 234.3 thousand,
comprising of 142 thousand men and 92.3 thousand women. By region, Region 2 employed the largest
concentration of workers (97.5 thousand), followed by Region 4 (53.1 thousand) and Region 1 (49.2
thousand).
In regard to the distribution of employment by sector of economic activity, around three-fifths (59.1 per
cent) of total employment was based in the services sector, whereas agriculture and industry accounted
for only 26.9 per cent and 13.5 per cent, respectively. Notably, men were more likely to be employed
in industry relative to women (16.5 per cent compared to 8.7 per cent, correspondingly). By contrast,
women's employment in agriculture was relatively higher than male agricultural employment (31 perView entire presentation