As economies and societies become more interdependent, the need to enhance our understanding of the world of work becomes increasingly important. Timely and focused information on the world's labour markets is essential; information that can answer such questions as:

• What types of economic activities are countries and people engaged in?
• What is the size and composition of the labour force?
• How is the level of economic development reflected in a national labour market?
• How many people are without work and looking for work?
• How many hours do people work and how much do they earn for this work?
• What types of employment inequalities exist?
• How are specific groups, such as women and youth, faring in the labour market?

Answering these questions requires detailed analysis of a large volume of statistics. At the national level, statistical information is generally gathered by national statistical agencies and labour ministries. At the global level, the ILO plays a vital role in assembling, analysing and disseminating information to the world community. The Department of Statistics maintains relevant statistical series and methodological information in regular ILO publications and its online statistical database, LABORSTA. The Employment Sector also houses numerous resources, listed below, that aim to disseminate labour market information, identify inefficiencies (and best practices) in the labour market, such as labour underutilization and decent work deficits, and guide constituents on the use of labour market information for the design and monitoring of employment policies that aim to enhance the well-being of workers while also promoting economic growth.