Employment promotion in Asia and the Pacific
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Employment promotion in Asia and the Pacific

Asia’s vast labour force, 1.9 billion in 2008, represents approximately 59 per cent of the global total, and it is expected to continue to grow. Without sufficient numbers of new decent and productive employment opportunities it is unlikely that the region will be able to achieve the goals of rising living standards, reduced poverty, social and economic integration, and social development. Sound employment policies, sustainable enterprise promotion and human resource development are essential elements in achieving these goals.

From this perspective the ILO conducts employment-related research and analysis, helps countries in formulating national employment policies, and promotes skills and enterprise development, youth employment and job creation.

Key resources

  1. Labour market indicators profile for ASEAN member countries
    28 July 2010

    This data set for 9 countries in the East and South East Asian region provides information on labour market and decent work indicators. It covers 11 thematic areas including employment opportunities, earnings, productivity, working children, equal opportunities, safety at work, social security and social dialogue. The available data relate to the period 1995 to 2008. Beginning with countries in East Asia the formats were then used to create statistical profiles for ASEAN countries for the ASEAN-ILO-ADBI Capacity-Building Workshop on Labour Market Information and Analysis in ASEAN (Brunei Darussalam, March 2-4 2010). Since then the profiles have been developed further with additional information in both quantitative and qualitative aspects of decent work. Based mainly on ILO sources such as LABORSTA and KILM, and the World Bank's and UNESCO's data, this dataset aims to be user-friendly and easily accessible to anyone interested in the promotion of decent work. In this first instance it was not possible to cover all countries in the region, but the dataset could be expanded to cover a larger number of countries in the future.

  2. Visions for Asia’s Decent Work Decade: Sustainable Growth and Jobs to 2015
    10 August 2007

  3. Asian Decent Work Decade resource kit: competitiveness, productivity and jobs
    16 September 2011

    This booklet is one of six parts of the kit, serving as a gateway into ILO expertise and knowledge on the regional priority area of competitiveness, productivity and jobs.

  4. Research Conference: Green Jobs for Asia and the Pacific
    21 April 2008 to 23 April 2008 - Niigata, Japan

    Jointly organized by the International Institute for Labour Studies, Policy Integration Department and Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

  5. Labour and social trends in ASEAN 2008: driving competitiveness and prosperity with decent work
    20 October 2008

    The fourth issue of the Labour and Social Trends series once again focuses on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The report presents an update in major trends in employment and social conditions and looks ahead to 2015 with informed projections, likely scenarios and their policy implications.

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