What characterizes an informal job sector?

The informal job sector is characterized by jobs that operate outside of formal recognition by the government or regulatory bodies. This means that individuals working in this sector typically do not have their jobs officially documented or recognized, which leads to a lack of job security and employment benefits. A significant aspect of this sector is that these jobs often do not pay taxes, as employers do not report salaries or income to tax authorities.

In contrast, positions that offer guaranteed employment benefits, are officially recognized, or require formal education usually belong to the formal job sector. These attributes are associated with job security, legal protections, and compliance with labor laws, which are not characteristic of informal employment. Therefore, the defining feature of the informal job sector is indeed the absence of tax payments made on these earnings, underscoring its unregulated and often precarious nature.