Employment Analysis and Research (EMP/ANALYSIS)

EMP/ANALYSIS unites two major economic disciplines, development economics and labour economics, in its research activities. These activities centre on a number of key themes relevant to both developed and developing countries: labour market regulation and its economic impact; labour market policies; poverty, income and the working poor; and macroeconomic policy and development (as it relates to labour markets). Through working papers, articles, manuals and books, this research aims to provide both an academic and policy perspective on these key issues, thus supporting the implementation of ILO’s activities at the country-level.

The basic references for the work of the Employment Analysis Research Unit include the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122). The unit’s work also contributes to the Global Employment Agenda's goal of putting productive employment in the centre of development and poverty reduction policies, both theoretically and empirically.

Key resources

  1. ILO-World Bank Joint Synthesis Report: Inventory of Policy Responses to the Financial and Economic Crisis

    07 June 2012

    The ILO and the World Bank (WB) have joined forces over the past two years to expand the questionnaire and the range of countries included in the inventory to low-and middle-income countries. This has resulted in a data base of an Inventory of Policy Responses to the Financial and Economic Crisis, and a joint ILO-WB synthesis report containing early policy insights that can be drawn from this unique database to help policymakers identify effective approaches to maintain and promote employment during times of crisis.

  2. From the Great Recession to Labour Market Recovery. Issues, evidence and policy options

    06 January 2011

    The Great Recession was one of the most traumatic global events of the first decade of the twenty-first century. This book showcases research undertaken by leading experts on the macroeconomic and labour market dimensions of the financial crisis of 2007-2009. It provides a global overview, interpreting the causes, consequences and policy responses to the Great Recession from the perspective of both developing and developed countries.

  3. The global employment challenge

    01 May 2008

    This volume offers an in-depth analysis of the state of employment in the world today, providing a detailed and comprehensive picture of the serious challenges faced by today's policy-makers...

  4. Active labour market policies around the world. Coping with the consequences of globalization. (Second edition)

    30 April 2008

    This revised and updated edition provides an authoritative account of how active labour market policies (ALMPs) can help make globalization work better in the interest of workers around the world.

  5. In defence of labour market institutions. Cultivating justice in the developing world

    21 February 2008

    Though labour market regulations have been blamed for the poor economic performance of many developing countries, the evidence on which this argument rests is weak. Rather than constraining economic development, labour market institutions, including the laws that regulate the labour market, are important for both economic growth as well as the well-being of the workforce. Through a survey of different labour market institutions in developing countries, this volume reaffirms the importance of labour market institutions in this era of globalization.

  6. Flexicurity: A relevant approach in Central and Eastern Europe

    25 January 2007

    This book argues, with case studies contributed by outstanding national experts, that the flexicurity approach is the most relevant for Central and Eastern European countries and suggests appropriate reforms of economic policy, institutional framework of the labour market, labour market policy and education and social policies in this region.

  7. Meeting the employment challenge: Argentina, Brazil and Mexico in the global economy

    13 June 2006

  8. Labour markets in transition. Balancing flexibility and security in Central and Eastern Europe

    10 November 2003

    Examines the interaction between labour market flexibility, employment security and labour market policies in the Central and Eastern European transition countries and provides comparison with labour market behaviour in OECD countries.

  9. Employment stability in an age of flexibility. Evidence from industrialized countries

    20 February 2003

    Comprises six papers which provide a comparative analysis of trends in employment security and stability in 16 OECD countries and individual country reports for Denmark, France, Japan and the USA. Covers the period 1990-2000.