Despite an increasing amount of research focusing on the relations between a rising China and developing countries, limited research is available on the implications for smaller countries, and by...Show moreDespite an increasing amount of research focusing on the relations between a rising China and developing countries, limited research is available on the implications for smaller countries, and by extension Laos. Within this research gap, the objective of this paper is to understand Chinese influence on changing employment patterns in the Lao market service sector, in the context of Lao individuals' experiences. Through the analysis of primary research, more specifically interviews of different clusters of the Lao population, this study observes the increasingly distinct impacts that China has had on the daily life of Lao people. Evidently, this is facilitated through an increase in infrastructure foreign direct investments (FDI), and an expanding Chinese diaspora. Thus, this research demonstrates that Chinese presence affects today's Lao labor at multiple levels, while also impacting future employment patterns within the country. This ultimately poses questions as to long-term consequences on national economic development.Show less