This paper seeks to assess the growing informal economy in Somalia using a combinaon of primary and secondary sources, applying both quantave and qualitave methods, and with respect to the Somalia Labor Force and High Frequency Survey dataset. This dataset contains informaon on economic condions, educaon, employment, access to services, security, percepons and post-displacement details for displaced households. The changing economic imagery of ‘the unemployed’, their integraon into an increasingly informal economy and the employment aspects play an important role in Somalia’s economy. The economic growth of last the ten years has made Somalia a very aracve desnaon for Somali Diaspora and the locals. The scope of the informal economy in Somalia has expanded considerably over the years.
Economic Informality in Somalia predates colonialism but the average annual growth rate of this sector rose steeply post-1990 civil war. This paper focuses on the importance of the largely unreported informal aspect of the economy at the horn of African Naon. Many engage in informal economic acvies not by choice, but for the reason that it provides an alternave route to earn a living, especially, in situaons of high unemployment and poverty levels in post conflict contexts such as that of Somalia.