GENEVA (ILO News) - The vast majority of the global workforce today lives in a world marked by economic uncertainty and insecurity over the future, says a new study to be published by the International Labour Office (ILO) on 1 September 2004.

The study, entitled "Economic Security for a Better World" attempts for the first time to measure social and economic security of individuals as well as economies in some 90 countries representing over 85 per cent of the world's population.

Among the elements of the study are the impact of globalization and employment policies - including outsourcing - on individuals as well as states, an analysis of the needs and aspirations of individuals in the world of work and whether people are happy or unhappy with their jobs, the impact of poverty and development on human security, and the extent of economic and social risk to which people are being increasingly exposed in their societies.

The report also contains a measure of Economic Security for the 90 countries surveyed in terms of labour market, skills, work and income security as well as employment protection and their access to representation.

The report will be published as at 1300 GMT on 1 September 2004. Advance copies are available to the media.

The Geneva press conference with Dr. Guy Standing, Director, ILO Socio-Economic Security Programme, Dr. Azfar Khan, Senior Development Economist, and Florence Bonnet, Statistician, is scheduled in Press Room III of the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Tuesday 31 August at 11.30 a.m.

Reports and press materials will be available from other ILO offices worldwide. For further information, or to receive a printed, electronic or web-based copy of the report, please contact the ILO Department of Communication at communication@ilo.org or tel.: +4122/799-7912, +4122/799-7911 or on fax: 4122/799-8577.