Books and reports

June 2021

  1. Report

    World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2021

    02 June 2021

    In 2020, an estimated 8.8 per cent of total working hours were lost – the equivalent of the hours worked in one year by 255 million full-time workers. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world of work.

December 2016

  1. Flagship Report

    Global Wage Report 2016/17: Wage inequality in the workplace

    15 December 2016

    This report analyses the evolution of real wages around the world, giving a unique picture of wage trends globally and by region.

October 2016

  1. Book

    Europe's disappearing middle class? Evidence from the world of work

    20 October 2016

    The book issues a warning about the latest trends in the world of work and presents considerations to policy-makers for ensuring the future of the middle class in Europe.

December 2014

  1. Report

    Global Wage Report 2014/15

    05 December 2014

    This report analyses the evolution of real wages around the world, giving a unique picture of wage trends and relative purchasing power globally and by region.

December 2012

  1. Publication

    Global Wage Report 2012/13: Wages and Equitable Growth

    07 December 2012

    The Global Wage Report 2012/13 looks at differences in wages around the globe and how they have been influenced by the economic crisis. It includes global and regional wage trends and statistics, as well as policy recommendations.

October 2011

  1. Publication

    World of Work Report 2011: Making Markets Work for Jobs

    31 October 2011

    Published annually by the International Institute for Labour Studies - the research arm of the ILO - the 2011 edition of “World of Work Report” shows that it will not be possible to recover successfully from the Great Recession unless social inequalities are addressed through well-designed policies. ...

January 2010

  1. Publication

    World of work report 2009. The global jobs crisis

    11 January 2010

    This World of Work Report from the International Institute for Labour Studies presents a highly relevant discussion of the jobs crisis resulting from the financial and economic crisis, in a non-technical manner, based on the latest data and economic analysis, with full technical annexes. The authors assess the crisis and provide a broad overview of its social effects, with particular emphasis on the structural imbalances in the globalization process that paved the way for the crisis. In addition, the report analyses conditions for a new growth and globalization model - one that would be more socially and environmentally sustainable. This timely report is an important addition to the discussions of socially sustainable growth, establishing the World of Work Report as a new authoritative source on labour issues.

November 2008

  1. Publication

    World of Work Report 2008 - Income inequalities in the age of financial globalization

    17 November 2008

    Income inequalities have been growing significantly within countries over the past two decades or so. This new report from the International Institute for Labour Studies presents a timely assessment of this issue, based on new data and economic analysis and with full technical annexes. It looks at the extent of this phenomenon and ...

October 2008

  1. Publication

    Globalization, Flexibilization and Working Conditions in Asia and the Pacific

    08 October 2008

    This unique study reviews employment conditions in Asia and the Pacific in the context of globalization and the increasing pressures towards flexibilization. It places a strong focus on the divergent experiences of individual workers regarding their employment conditions...