Publication: Labor Markets in Low and Middle-Income Countries : Trends and Implications for Social Protection and Labor Policies
Date
2012-03
ISSN
Published
2012-03
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper reviews labor market trends
throughout the developing world, identifies issues and
policy priorities across groups of countries, and derives
implications for the World Bank's new social protection
and labor strategy. Five key issues are identified: a high
and growing share of the labor force that is self?employed
or working in household enterprises, exposure to income
shocks with limited access to risk management systems, low
female participation rates, high youth unemployment rates,
and the need to manage migration flows and remittances. The
paper then details a three pronged agenda based on providing
incentives and conditions for work, improving the efficiency
of job creation, and managing risks / facilitating labor
market transitions. This suggests that the Bank should
emphasize self?employment and entrepreneurship promotion,
provision of skills and development opportunities, and
facilitation of labor market transitions into and between
jobs, while protecting workers from shocks and paying
particular attention to youth.
Citation
“Cho, Yoonyoung; Margolis, David N.; Newhouse, David; Robalino, David A.. 2012. Labor Markets in Low and Middle-Income Countries : Trends and Implications for Social Protection and Labor Policies. Social Protection and Labor Discussion Paper;No. 1207. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/dfef6834-c76c-5ad2-accd-76ff86e52272 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”