Moving Jobs Center Stage: WB Report 2013

Jobs are the cornerstones of economic and social development. Indeed, development happens through jobs. People work their way-out of poverty and hardship through better livelihoods economic grow as people get better at what they do, as they move from farms to firms and as more productive jobs are created and less productive ones disappears. Societies flourish as jobs bring together people from different ethnic and social backgrounds and nature a sense of opportunity, jobs are thus transformational-they can transform what we earn, what we do, and even who we are.

No surprise, then, those jobs are atop the development agenda everywhere-for every one form policy makers to the populace from business leaders to the    populace, from activities to academics; looking to seize opportunities for job creation presented by massive demographics shifts, technological innovations, global migration of people and tasks, policy makers ask difficult questions.

1.      Should countries build their development strategies around growth or should they rather focus on jobs?

2.      Can entrepreneurship be fostered, especially among the many micro enterprises in developing countries, or are entrepreneurs born?   

3.      While jobs can contributes to social cohesion, in there anything governments can do about it, apart from trying to support job creation?

4.      Are greater investments in education in education and training a prerequisite for employ-ability or can skills be built through jobs?

5.      Should efforts to improve the investment, climate target the areas, activities, or firms?

6.      With greater potential for job creation?

7.      What is the risk that policies to foster job creation in one country will come at the expense of jobs in other countries?

8.      When confronted with large shocks and major restructuring, is it advisable to protect jobs and not just people?

9.      How can the reallocation of workers be accelerated from areas and activities with low productivity to those with greater potential?

Individual value jobs for the earnings and benefits they provides as well as for their contribution to self-stream and happiness. But some jobs have broader impacts on society. Jobs for women and invest in the education and health of children. Jobs in cities support greater specialization and the exchange of ideas, making other jobs more productive. Jobs connected to global markets bring home new technological and managerial knowledge. And in turbulent environments, jobs for young men can provide alternative to violence and help restore peace.

To many a “job” brings to mind a worker with an employer and a regular paycheck. Yet, the majority of workers in the poorest countries are outside the scope for an employer-employee relationship. Worldwide, more than 3 billion people are working but their jobs vary greatly, some 1.65 billion are employed and receive regular wages or salary. Another 1.5 billion work in farming and small household enterprises, or in causal or seasonal day labor. Meanwhile, 200 million people, a disproportionate share of them youth, are unemployed and actively looking for work. Almost 2 billion working-age adults, the majority of them women, but an unknown number of them are eager to have a job. Clarifying what is meant by a job is thus a useful starting point  

Why job is important?

Job provides higher earning and better benefit as countries grow, but they are also a driver of development. Poverty falls as people work their way out of hardship and as jobs empowering women lead to greater investment in children. Efficiency increases as workers get better as   what they do, and less productive ones disappear. Societies flourish as jobs bring together people from different ethnics and social backgrounds and provide alternative to conflict. Jobs are thus more than a byproduct of economic growth. They are transformational, they are what we earn, what we do, and even who we are.

Higher unemployment and unmet job expectations among youth are the most immediate concerns. But in many developing countries, where farming and self-employment are prevalent and safeties are modest at best, unemployment rates can be low. In these countries, growth is seldom jobless. Most violation of basic rights is not uncommon. Therefore, the number of job of jobs is not all the matter: jobs with high development payoffs are needed.

What about job commitment:

·        Jobs drive development

·        They should not be an after through of growth

·        Some have greater development payoff

·        It is not just the number of jobs

·        Jobs are created by the private sectors

·        Public action sets the stage

·        Many jobs in developing countries are in farms are very small farms

·        Some work in unacceptable

·        Right should not be overlooked

·        One size does not fit all

·        Jobs challenges vary across countries

·        Get the policy fundamental right

·        They have a bearing regardless of the jobs challenges

·        The main constraints of job creation may lie elsewhere

·        Labor policies matter less than assumed

·        Set priorities for public action

·        Focus on the jobs with greater development payoffs

·        Data and cooperation on cross-holder investment and migration

·        A global agenda for jobs is needed

The Job Challenges | Create infographics
Sources: WB Reports 2013