Using the 2009 data of the China Health and Nutrition Survey from Guizhou province, this paper analyzes whether an official ethnic label can be linked to a lower probability of non-agricultural employment. Results suggest that the Buyi and the Miao are less likely to work in non-agricultural fields than are Han (the majority group); the Tujia are more likely to work in non-agricultural fields than are Han. The predicted probability of non-agricultural employment for the Miao is lower than that of Han at almost all educational and age levels. Alongside the official ethnic label, more years of education and younger age appear to be most crucial for working in non-agricultural employment.