Singapore
3.2%
unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2025)
Graduate jobs and salaries in Laos
Updated Data years: 2022 How we use data
Quick answer
In Laos, employees with tertiary education earned a median of LAK 2,011,070 a month in 2022 (PPP$ 542) — +1% compared with all employees. Their unemployment rate was 2.2%, against 0.9% for all adults aged 25 and over (2022).
Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO)
- +1%degree premium: tertiary-educated vs all employees (2022)
- LAK 2,011,070median monthly pay with tertiary education (2022)
- 2.2%unemployment, tertiary-educated adults 25+ (all adults: 0.9%, 2022)
- 9.8%unemployment, tertiary-educated 15–24 year olds (2022)
Do graduates earn more in Laos?
| Education level | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than basic education | LAK 1,500,000 | 404 | -25% |
| Basic education | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | 0% |
| Intermediate education | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | 0% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | LAK 2,011,070 | 542 | +1% |
| Short-cycle tertiary | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | 0% |
| Bachelor's or equivalent | LAK 2,100,000 | 566 | +5% |
| Master's or equivalent | LAK 2,400,000 | 647 | +20% |
| All levels | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | — |
The degree premium ranks 122 of 128 countries with data. That is below the East Asia and Pacific median of +52%.
Which occupations pay the most in Laos?
Median monthly earnings by occupation group in 2022, from highest to lowest. Examples link to our career profiles.
| Occupation group | Local currency a month | PPP$ a month | vs all employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant and machine operators and assemblers | LAK 2,500,000 | 674 | +25% |
| Clerical support workers | LAK 2,494,255 | 672 | +25% |
| Managers Construction manager, Marketing manager, Project manager, Supply chain manager | LAK 2,300,000 | 620 | +15% |
| Professionals Software developer, Web developer, Data scientist, Data analyst | LAK 2,100,000 | 566 | +5% |
| Technicians and associate professionals IT support technician, Paramedic, Biomedical scientist, Paralegal | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | 0% |
| Craft and related trades workers | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | 0% |
| Elementary occupations | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | 0% |
| Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers | LAK 1,733,333 | 467 | -13% |
| Service and sales workers Police officer | LAK 1,675,416 | 451 | -16% |
| All occupations | LAK 2,000,000 | 539 | — |
Are graduates less likely to be unemployed in Laos?
| Education level | Adults 25+ | Young people 15–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic education | 0.7% | 1.7% |
| Intermediate education | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Advanced (tertiary) education | 2.2% | 9.8% |
| All levels | 0.9% | 2.3% |
Unemployment among tertiary-educated adults is the 14 lowest of 130 countries with data. The East Asia and Pacific median is 2.3%.
Unemployment over time, adults 25+
Advanced (tertiary) educationAll levels
Studying and working in Laos
Rules on student visas, work after graduation and recognition of qualifications change often. Use the official sources below and check the date on any advice you read.
Guide: how to choose a country to study in · Guide: getting your degree recognised abroad
Country context
- Population
- 7.9M (2025)
- GDP per person (PPP)
- $10,383 (2025)
- Tertiary enrolment (gross)
- 14.9% (2023)
Questions about graduate jobs in Laos
Do graduates earn more than non-graduates in Laos?
According to the International Labour Organization, employees in Laos with tertiary education earned a median of LAK 2,011,070 a month in 2022, compared with LAK 2,000,000 for all employees — +1%. The degree premium ranks 122 of 128 countries with data.
What is the unemployment rate for graduates in Laos?
In 2022, the unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and over with tertiary education in Laos was 2.2%, compared with 0.9% for all adults. Among young people aged 15–24 with tertiary education it was 9.8%.
Which jobs pay the most in Laos?
The best-paid occupation group in Laos in 2022 was “Plant and machine operators and assemblers”, with median monthly earnings of LAK 2,500,000 (PPP$ 674). Professionals, the group that includes most graduate careers, earned a median of LAK 2,100,000.
Compare with other countries in East Asia and Pacific
-
-
New Zealand
2.6%
unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2020) -
Mongolia
+11%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Cambodia
+54%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2025) -
Australia
+28%
more for tertiary-educated employees (2021) -
Malaysia
2.2%
unemployment, tertiary-educated adults (2022)
Sources
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2022
- ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2022
- ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education — LFS - Labour Force Survey, 2022
- World Bank — World Development Indicators — Population, GDP per person (PPP) and tertiary enrolment
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). Laos: graduate salaries, jobs and unemployment. https://coursetojob.com/countries/laos/ (accessed September 26, 2026)
Notes from the data source
- Break in series: Methodology revised
- The source reports a break in the series, so compare with earlier years carefully.