This paper looks at evidence on the nature of informality in rural employment in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, drawing on a literature review, and on the results of a specially commissioned survey of rural workers, employers and policy makers in these countries. It highlights structural features of the national economies which contribute to shortfalls in the supply of formal sector jobs in both rural and urban areas, as well as gaps in social protection coverage associated with informality among rural workers. The results of the survey suggest that workers on the whole make the choice between formal and informal employment based on personal preferences and the options available to them, and that workers are quite well informed of the advantages and disadvantages of both. Within agriculture, informality is mainly associated with seasonal work, and seasonal workers emerge as a particularly vulnerable group. The paper concludes that policy and programme work should focus on improving the quality of employment for those in both formal and informal employment, as well as broadening decent employment options in on- and off-farm employment and finishes with recommendations for future policy and programme work.