Unemployment was higher in the lowest quintile than in the higher quintiles. But the response to poverty conditions and economic stress was a resort to the informal sector, and to the sharing of employment. Poverty was associated with shorter or more irregular hours of work. In respect of the sector of work, Agriculture provided the largest share of jobs to both the poor and the non-poor. Less than ten percent of jobs was in Manufacturing.
Remittances continue to have major importance in the country.
Seventeen percent of poor households received regular contributions either in cash or kind from persons outside the household. An important coping strategy, therefore, was emigration and 43.8 percent of households reported recent migrations among members of the household. The United States was the preferred destination. Forty-four percent of the lowest quintile had access to school meals. On the other hand, 34.3 percent of the highest quintile also had access, suggesting the need for better targeting in this area.