Beyond “informal by default”: The future of contributing family work

Contributing family workers, predominantly women, are an under-researched segment of the global labour force. The 2023 revision of international statistical standards on informal employment marks a significant shift by acknowledging the potential for formality within this group, contingent on specific criteria. This change highlights the importance of the questions used to classify contributing family workers in labour force surveys. It also represents an opportunity to develop better informed policies and programs that support decent work for contributing family workers seeking a pathway out of vulnerable employment. This paper examines the gendered dimensions of contributing family work and the evolution of its classification. It explores efforts being made to formalize contributing family work in some countries, demonstrating the need for the statistical standards to support classifying contributing family work as formal. The paper also explores the implications of the revised standards for accurate measurement, analysis, and policy development. By adopting and applying these new standards in labour force surveys, official statisticians can generate accurate, disaggregated data that is crucial for understanding contributing family work and informing effective interventions to promote decent work and women's economic empowerment.