Publication: Market Study to Understand Job Growth Potential in SMEs in Nepal
Date
2020-06-19
ISSN
Published
2020-06-19
Author(s)
Irwin, David
Ibrahim, Nada
Abstract
This report identifies and quantifies
Nepal's key jobs challenges and the implications for
future job creation, job quality and gender disparities. The
diagnostic examines the slow pace of structural
transformation, the existing distribution of jobs by work
status, productivity level and worker characteristics, and
the role of migration in absorbing excess labor supply. The
analysis of private sector labor demand finds that most
firms are micro-sized, and the pace of wage job creation –
although increasing – is insufficient to absorb job seekers,
especially women. A new SME survey conducted for this study
concludes that small firms struggle to compete and access
credit, and they lack the capacity to obtain the skills and
other inputs necessary to increase their product quality,
ultimately limiting their growth capacity. Nepal's
business environment and labor regulations create further
impediments to dynamic, job-creating economic growth. A set
of policy recommendations is offered to mitigate labor
demand and supply challenges to achieve better labor
outcomes in Nepal.
Citation
“Irwin, David; Ibrahim, Nada. 2020. Market Study to Understand Job Growth Potential in SMEs in Nepal. Jobs Working Paper;No. 46. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33952 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”