Labor market in Mongolia

The National Statistical Office measures Mongolia's labor market through the Labour Force Survey nationally, in Ulaanbaatar and across the 21 aimags, Mongolia's provinces. The figures for 2019 to 2023 were revised after a new weighting method introduced in 2024, so direct comparisons with older publications require care. In the second quarter of 2024, services accounted for 53.5% of employment, agriculture for 24.2%, and industry and construction together for 22.4%. Wholesale and retail, construction, and manufacturing repeatedly generate demand. Informal work can leave workers without social protection, paid leave or sick leave and includes own-account workers and contributing family helpers. Demand is strongly concentrated in Ulaanbaatar: the 2026 forecast identified about 82,600 openings, including 66,600 in the capital, or 80.7% of the total. Rural demand shares have declined particularly in the Khangai and Central regions, while differences between an aimag and a soum can affect access to employers, training and public services. Formal qualification pathways include technical and vocational education and higher education under Mongolia's National Qualifications Framework. Prior learning and practical skills can also be assessed, but mismatch remains substantial: in 2024, 53% of employed people worked outside their qualification field, with pay about 10% lower on average, and only 15.7% of graduates were satisfied with working in their field. Public programs recorded 725 skills trainees, 300 specialization participants and 200 prior-learning assessments. Average nominal monthly pay was MNT 2,621,900 in the first quarter of 2025, while the median was MNT 2,245,300; mining averaged MNT 4,935,000 and accommodation and food services about MNT 1.7 million. From 1 April 2025, the statutory minimum was MNT 4,715 per hour or MNT 792,000 per month. An employer may not set base pay below that level, and skilled work should not be priced automatically at the minimum. Additional pay can arise from legislation, a collective agreement or the employment contract. The eJob service lets users create a profile and CV, receive automated recommendations, apply for vacancies and obtain career guidance. Job Centers provide skills assessment, counselling, placement and labor-market information; four opened in Ulaanbaatar in 2024, with nationwide expansion planned. Services are provided through the General Agency for Labour and Welfare Services, aimag and district labor and welfare departments, authorized training institutions and labor exchanges, with no general user fee evidenced in the available research. Registered orders totaled 53,198 in the second quarter of 2024, but only 13,964 placements were recorded, a fulfilment rate of 26.2%. The 2026 forecast placed 80.5% of demand in the first half of the year, with 90.7% of openings permanent, 9.3% temporary, 53.2% new positions and 46.8% replacements or other existing vacancies. Policy responses focus on integrating eJob, expanding Job Centers, demand-led training, recognition of prior learning and cooperation between public and private matching providers. Mongolia's Labour Force Migration Law covers Mongolian citizens working abroad and foreign workers in Mongolia. Annual sector quotas and percentage limits apply; an employer invitation permit can last up to three months and may be extended once for up to three additional months, while a work permit can last up to one year. Foreign workers generally need qualification evidence, social-insurance evidence and payment of a service fee. In May 2025, 20,839 foreign residents held labor-purpose residence permits out of 40,003 foreign residents in total. In the first quarter of 2025, 213 outbound contract workers were reported, including 178 going to South Korea and 35 to Japan.