TITLE:
Working Poverty in the WAEMU*. An Analysis Based on the Harmonized Household Living Conditions Surveys (HHLCS)#
AUTHORS:
Koko Siaka Koné, Yacouba Diallo, Daouda Doukouré
KEYWORDS:
Working Poverty, Informal Employment, Labor Market, Human Capital, WAEMU
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Economy,
Vol.17 No.2,
February
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: This article analyzes the labor-intensive poverty in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) area using data from the Harmonized Household Living Conditions Surveys (HHLCS). Despite high levels of employment, a significant proportion of workers remain in poverty, revealing the structural limitations of labor markets in this economic and monetary area. Working poverty appears to be closely linked to rural areas, informal employment, low human capital and the predominance of subsistence agriculture. Women, young people and workers from large households are particularly at risk. Conversely, education, formal employment and integration into industry or services significantly reduce the risk of poverty in employment. These results underline that the sustainable reduction of worker poverty requires integrated policies combining educational investment, formalization of the economy, productive diversification and strengthening of social protection.