Person:
von der Goltz, Jan

Last updated: June 11, 2025

Biography

Jan von der Goltz is an Economist in the Jobs Group at the World Bank. He is an applied microeconomist and works on conflict and on environmental issues. His research has been published in the Journal of Development Economics and other peer-reviewed journals. Before joining the World Bank, he worked for the UN and the Center for Global Development. He holds a Ph.D. in development economics from Columbia University.

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The Labor Market Impact of Forced Displacement: Jobs in Host Communities in Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Uganda
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-12-13) von der Goltz, Jan; Schuettler, Kirsten; Bousquet, Julie; Kebede, Tewodros Aragie
Communities that host refugees are often concerned about how their labor markets will change. Although high-income countries attract most policy attention, low- and middle-income countries host three of every four refugees worldwide. "The Labor Market Impact of Forced Displacement: Jobs in Host Communities in Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Uganda" seeks to address some of the key questions that arise in these host countries: How does forced displacement affect job outcomes for hosts? What effect do work permit schemes have? How does labor market competition influence attitudes? And what policies can support better job outcomes for hosts and refugees? To address these questions, the book relies on new primary data designed to study host community labor markets and on a careful comparative analysis of existing data. Its four focus countries represent low-income and middle-income economies as well as diverse policy contexts.In its key finding, "The Labor Market Impact of Forced Displacement" shows that across the focus countries, hosting refugees has modest or even positive overall labor market effects. In important instances, however, groups of host workers face adversity from greater labor market competition, while others benefit. The book explains how labor market restrictions rarely prevent refugees entirely from working but shape the type and quality of work they do, their contribution to the economy, and the effects of their participation on hosts. It shows that refugees matter not only as competitors but also as consumers, and it explains the importance of access to capital for hosts and refugees alike in economies where self-employment is key. It also discusses how hosts’ concerns over labor market competition influence their attitudes toward refugees.The book seeks to provide a basis for more confident jobs policy making in host communities. It offers lessons on how to analyze local labor market characteristics that shape outcomes for refugees and hosts alike and on how to think about the likely effects of policies. It encourages policy makers to support workers who face negative impacts—and to proactively seize the opportunities likely to arise.
Cost-Effectiveness of Jobs Projects in Conflict and Forced Displacement Contexts
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022) Barberis, Virginia; Brouwer, Laura; von der Goltz, Jan; Hobden, Timothy; Saidi, Mira; Schuettler, Kirsten; Seyfert, Karin
The need for jobs support in economies affected by forced displacement and conflict is high, with forced displacement at its highest level since the Second World War and poverty expected to be increasingly concentrated in economies affected by fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV). Developing impactful and cost-effective jobs support requires good data on program costs and benefits, but such information remains notoriously scarce in FCV and displacement situations. This study presents insights from a new dataset of cost and results in the jobs support project portfolios of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Bank in six low- and middle-income economies affected by conflict and displacement. It analyzes results on the cost-efficiency of jobs support to inform design and budget planning, as well as results on cost effectiveness, with a view to informing choice between different modalities while taking into account additionality and sustainability of outcomes achieved.
Job Outcomes in the Towns of South Sudan: Jobs, Recovery, and Peacebuilding in Urban South Sudan - Technical Report I
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-21) Finn, Arden; von der Goltz, Jan; Saidi, Mira; Sharma, Ambika
This study assesses jobs outcomes in the towns of South Sudan, based on a 2017 household survey and a dedicated 2019 youth jobs survey. It discusses how years of conflict have touched nearly all livelihoods, leaving few productive jobs, and causing high poverty. Most urban households diversify their job activities little, and rely on household work in agriculture, commerce or personal services, or they depend on a household member’s work for NGOs or as a public servant. Many young workers say they are ready to build from the less than attractive job activities available. Workers point to a lack of funding, insecurity, and low demand as the main obstacles to doing better. The study is one of a set of four reports assessing different aspects of jobs in urban South Sudan in order to formulate policy for recovery.
Jobs, Recovery, and Peacebuilding in Urban South Sudan
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2021-06-15) von der Goltz, Jan; Harborne, Bernard
After years of conflict, there is an opportunity for peace in South Sudan, but an effective economic recovery process must underpin the political settlement. The aim of this work is to inform policy for more productive urban jobs in peacebuilding and recovery in South Sudan and for first steps toward private sector development. To this end, this report studies the main urban centers of South Sudan, with a focus on those that are part of the partnership for recovery and resilience (PfRR). The goal of this report is to inform policy for the first few steps toward peacebuilding and recovery. Findings in this report are based on data analysis on urban jobs, including the self-employed and household activities that are the norm for most workers. This synthesis report summarizes findings from four technical studies on: (i) urban job activities and welfare outcomes, (ii) the macro-economic framework, (iii) markets and market-based agriculture, and (iv) businesses and non-profit organizations. This synthesis report proceeds as follows: part one, introductory section explains objectives and methodology of the research and gives some country context. Part two discusses empirical findings on: (i) challenges of supporting jobs and livelihoods; (ii) the macro-fiscal environment for jobs; (iii) markets and market-linked agriculture; (iv) jobs in businesses and non-profit organizations, and (v) constraints limiting economic activity. A discussion of policy and operational implications including some costing of recovery concludes the report.
Jobs in the Horn of Africa: Synoptic Brief
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2021-06-21) Sahr, Tove; Farole, Thomas; Viollaz, Mariana; von der Goltz, Jan
This note provides an overview of labor markets and job outcomes in the Horn of Africa. This background note was prepared for the Horn of Africa Regional Economic Memorandum. It provides an overview of issues related to jobs in the five countries of the region, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. It first discusses labor market characteristics, notably labor force participation, unemployment and underemployment,as well as demographics of the labor force. Secondly, it compares employment patterns, focusing on the type and sector of employment. Finally, it looks at the limited information available on jobs outcomes – notably, wage levels. It seeks to provides a relatively succinct synoptic summary of the common trends among the five countries as well as some distinct features. With the exception of Eritrea, the World Bank has recently analyzed jobs outcomes in all countries of the region.
Insights from Surveys on Business and Enterprises in South Sudan: Jobs, Recovery, and Peacebuilding in Urban South Sudan – Technical Report IV
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-21) Finn, Arden; von der Goltz, Jan
This study assesses jobs in businesses and NGOs in the towns of South Sudan. It is based on a 2019 business survey that includes informal and micro enterprises, as well as a dedicated survey of foreign-owned businesses. The business community is typical of a low-income post-conflict country, but with a particularly weak productive sector and an outsize importance of NGOs and foreign-owned businesses. Two in five commercial businesses are foreign-owned; they employ far more South Sudanese than foreign nationals, and source some inputs locally, though they could become more important customers. NGOs employ one in five workers in businesses, and while UN and aid agency procurement is a minor source of demand in Juba, it is a major factor in smaller markets, for food and personal services. Business obstacles focus on insecurity, lack of demand (including due to inflation), no access to finance, and electricity. The study is one of a set of four reports assessing different aspects of jobs in urban South Sudan in order to formulate policy for recovery.
Reviving Markets and Market-Linked Agriculture in South Sudan: Jobs, Recovery, and Peacebuilding in Urban South Sudan - Technical Report III
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-21) Saidi, Mira; von der Goltz, Jan; Ting Mayai, Augustino; Williams, Melissa
This study assesses the state of markets and of jobs in market-linked agriculture in the towns of South Sudan. It is based on a 2019 market trader survey end extensive qualitative work. Agriculture provides most urban livelihoods, and there is high potential for raising production. However, insecurity has disrupted all elements of agricultural markets, from production to the transformation of produce, trade networks, and demand. Market activity is recovering, but food system value chains are few and short. While most market activities are small-time and profits slim, most traders rely on their activities for most of their household’s income, and many provide jobs for hired helpers. Local products face competition from imports as insecurity makes it difficult for aggregators to operate. A lack of funds, bad and dangerous roads, low demand, and inflation are the most prominent obstacles to business in the markets. The study is one of a set of four reports assessing different aspects of jobs in urban South Sudan in order to formulate policy for recovery.
Monitoring COVID-19 Impacts on Households in South Sudan, Report No. 1: Results from a High-Frequency Phone Survey of Households
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-22) Finn, Arden; von der Goltz, Jan; Fatima, Freeha; Nichanametla Ramasubbaiah, Rakesh Gupta
There is an urgent need for timely data to help monitor and mitigate the social and economic impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and protect the welfare of the South Sudanese citizens. To respond to this need, the World Bank designed and conducted a rapid phone-based Household Monitoring Survey (HMS). This brief summarizes the results of the first round of the HMS, implemented between June 9 and June 25, 2020.
Supporting Jobs in Fragility, Conflict, and Violence Situations
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-04-29) Mavridis, Dimitris; von der Goltz, Jan
This Jobs Solutions Note identifies practical solutions for development practitioners and policymakers to design and implement policies and programs that improve jobs outcomes for in FCV contexts. Based on curated knowledge and evidence for a specific topic and relevant to jobs, the Jobs Solutions Notes are not intended to be exhaustive; they provide key lessons, solutions and approaches synthesized from the experiences of the World Bank Group and partners. This Note draws in part on the Integrated Framework for Jobs in Fragile and Conflict Situations and Generating employment in poor and fragile states: Evidence from labor market and entrepreneurship programs.
Support to Jobs for Youth in Niger: A Retrospective Evaluation of Jobs Projects 2007-2018
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019) Gado, Boureima; von der Goltz, Jan; Saidi, Mira; Soumaila, Abdoulaye Sambo
Supporting jobs for youth in Niger means addressing difficult questions of the right level of ambition, of reaching the necessary scale, and of trade-offs with funding for poverty reduction. Jobs policy for youth in Niger faces a difficult balancing act. It must be grounded in the reality that given the very modest starting point, economic opportunities for most Nigeriens are likely to remain limited in the medium term. At the same time, jobs policy needs to contend with the fact that young Nigeriens aspire for a different economic life than that lived by their elders. The challenge is thus to determine what kind of support is realistically feasible and can provide a good-enough perspective for young Nigeriens. Secondly, policy must ask whether the actions envisaged can make a real difference at scale, given the very big needs for better jobs. Finally, in an environment where poverty remains pervasive, it is important to acknowledge that providing jobs support specifically for youth may mean forgoing other investments that may be more efficient in reducing poverty. To make informed choices on these questions, policy makers may need to understand clearly the effectiveness of different jobs support modalities, their appropriateness in addressing Niger`s challenges, and their cost efficiency. This study seeks to provide such an assessment. The purpose of this study is to review the effectiveness of projects that supported jobs for youth in Niger over the years 2007-2018.