Abstract
The objective of this research is to qualitatively analyze the factors and contexts influencing the formation of informal jobs among youth in Lorestan Province. Informal jobs refer to activities that do not pay taxes, do not contribute to social insurance, and are generally not registered in official legal authorities. The present study employs a qualitative approach to analyze the factors and contexts affecting informal jobs, relying on thematic analysis method, through which the data have been subjected to qualitative analysis and examination. The data were collected using 15 semi-structured interviews with employers, entrepreneurship activists, employment specialists, experts, and other stakeholders in the province. Based on the research findings, the macro-level factors influencing the inclination toward informal jobs include two organizing themes (government policies and procedures, and environmental opportunities) and seven basic themes (government economic policies, employment policies, legal factors, supply and demand system, tax system, business environment factors, and national education system). The micro-level factors influencing the inclination toward informal jobs consist of two organizing themes (contextual factors and individual factors) and six basic themes (cultural factors, economic factors, social factors, natural factors, personality traits, and motivational factors). The results of this study indicate that informal jobs are neither solely the product of weaknesses in macro-structures nor merely the outcome of individual choices; rather, they are the result of complex interactions among economic policies, institutional constraints, and micro-level motivations of youth.
Keywords: Informal Economy, Informal Jobs, Youth Unemployment, Thematic Analysis, Lorestan Province.

1. Introduction
The human resources of any society constitute the active capital for production, creation, technology, material welfare, and the attainment of spiritual goals and human excellence. They accumulate capital, create technology, and propel society toward development and prosperity. On the other hand, the expansion of informal jobs leads to the erosion of the attractiveness of productive jobs and overshadows the social, cultural, and economic foundations of productive activities. Informal jobs, as a component of the informal economy, have assumed an increasingly significant role in the employment of youth in Lorestan Province. These jobs, which lack official registration, tax payments, and access to insurance benefits, are the product of structural unemployment, weaknesses in the education system, inefficiencies in job creation policies, and economic recession. From this perspective, the present study seeks to address the following research questions:
1. What macro-level factors (structural, economic, political, cultural) contribute to the formation of informal jobs among youth in Lorestan? 2. What micro-level factors (individual and motivational) drive youth toward these types of jobs? 3. What are the social and individual consequences of employment in informal jobs, and what strategies can be proposed to mitigate them?
Accordingly, the ultimate objective of this research is not merely to identify the factors and contexts influencing the formation of informal jobs; rather, it endeavors to provide a more comprehensive and localized portrayal of the phenomenon of informal jobs in Lorestan Province by establishing a balance between micro- and macro-levels and employing a qualitative thematic analysis approach.


2. Research Methodology
This research was conducted using a qualitative approach and the thematic analysis method. The primary data collection tool was the semi-structured interview, which allowed the researcher to pose open-ended questions and maintain flexibility during the interview process. In total, 12 main questions and several supplementary questions were designed, organized into three main axes: macro-level factors influencing the inclination toward informal jobs, micro-level factors influencing the inclination toward informal jobs, and strategies for reducing informal jobs. The interviews were conducted over a three-month period, with each interview lasting between 45 and 75 minutes. The research population consisted of experts and specialists in the fields of employment and regional development in Lorestan Province. The sample selection criteria included a minimum of five years of professional or research experience in employment and entrepreneurship, authorship of articles or implementation of projects related to informal jobs, and familiarity with the socio-economic conditions of Lorestan Province. Based on these criteria, 15 participants were selected, comprising 12 men and 3 women. The composition of participants included university professors, experts from government organizations related to employment and development, and civil society activists familiar with labor market issues. For data analysis, the six-stage method of Braun and Clarke (2006) was employed in thematic analysis: familiarization with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the final report.


3. Discussion
In response to the research question regarding the factors influencing the inclination toward informal and harmful jobs among youth in Lorestan Province, the results of the thematic analysis derived from the interviews are presented within two overarching themes: macro-level factors and micro-level factors. At the macro level, a set of institutional, economic, and political weaknesses has created conditions under which informal jobs are not merely voluntary choices but rather survival strategies in response to the inefficiencies of formal structures in Lorestan Province, thereby forming and reproducing these jobs. At the micro level, the simultaneous interplay of economic factors (such as quick liquidity), cultural factors (culture of poverty), educational factors (lack of specialized skills), and psychological factors (desire for rapid independence) renders informal jobs not merely a transient choice for Lorestan youth, but a reasonable and low-cost strategy for survival and livelihood.
According to the research findings, strategies for reducing informal and harmful jobs among youth in Lorestan Province, considering the factors influencing the inclination toward such jobs, have been identified and organized into two overarching themes, four organizing themes, and 12 basic themes. At the macro level, the most important recommendations focus on reforming economic and institutional structures. Reducing administrative bureaucracy in issuing business licenses, facilitating conditions for micro-investments, and revising the tax system to support nascent businesses are among the measures that can reduce barriers to youth entry into the formal labor market. At the micro and individual level, strategies primarily emphasize changing attitudes and strengthening work culture. Raising awareness through media about the negative consequences of informal jobs (such as economic instability, lack of insurance and retirement benefits) and modeling successful local entrepreneurs can contribute to a gradual shift in youth attitudes. Furthermore, strengthening the family’s role in supporting sustainable career paths for youth plays a fundamental role. Overall, the analysis of strategies indicates that reducing informal jobs in Lorestan is not achievable through a single isolated action but rather through the integration of structural policies, empowerment programs, and cultural initiatives. Only within such a framework can it be hoped that youth in the province will find sustainable and productive pathways for their future careers instead of relying temporarily on informal jobs.

4. Conclusion
The findings of this research can be interpreted within the frameworks of modernization theory, neoliberalism, critical urban Marxism, and economic feminism. According to the modernization perspective, informal jobs are regarded as remnants of traditional structures and failures in transitioning to a modern labor market (Moser, 1978). The findings of the present study indicate that in Lorestan, factors such as weaknesses in educational institutions and the scarcity of industrial opportunities have led to the reproduction of traditional livelihood patterns, such as street vending. This aligns with modernization analysis and demonstrates that the lack of industrial and structural development in the province has created fertile ground for the reinforcement of informal jobs.
In contrast, the neoliberal approach views informal jobs as manifestations of entrepreneurship under conditions of government constraints (de Soto, 2000). The interview data confirm that the complexity of administrative and tax regulations has driven many Lorestan youth toward initiating informal activities; such that informal employment in this province is both a product of the shortage of formal opportunities and a creative response to institutional barriers.
From the perspective of critical urban Marxism, attention must be paid to the role of capitalism in reproducing marginalization and the labor force’s dependence on low-income and informal activities. As Lefebvre (2021) emphasizes, capitalist cities create a dual space: on one hand, formal and legal centers for capital production, and on the other, peripheries that serve as hubs for informal and fictitious activities. In Lorestan as well, unplanned urban growth and the absence of sustainable productive industries have directed youth labor toward informal spaces such as street vending.
Furthermore, the economic feminism approach highlights the gender dimensions of informal jobs (Shirkhodaie, 2016). The findings reveal that a portion of informal jobs, particularly street vending or informal home-based work, belongs to women who, due to structural discrimination in the formal labor market and cultural constraints, lack equal opportunities for stable employment. This corroborates the feminist viewpoint that the informal economy is not merely a voluntary choice but the direct result of patriarchal and unequal labor market structures.
In final summary, it can be stated that the present research provides a more comprehensive portrayal of the phenomenon of informal jobs in Lorestan. This study demonstrates that informal jobs are neither solely the product of macro-structural weaknesses nor merely the outcome of individual choices; rather, they are the result of complex interactions among economic policies, institutional constraints, and micro-level motivations of youth. The significance of the findings lies in directing policymakers toward the necessity of adopting a multi-level approach to manage and reduce informal jobs. Accordingly, simultaneous attention to macro-economic reforms, micro-level support for nascent businesses, and revisions in administrative regulations can pave the way for reducing Lorestan youth’s reliance on such jobs.