Global Employment Trends 2013: Facts and figures for East Asia

Article | 22 January 2013
  • With economic activity slowing, labour markets were sluggish in 2012.
  • The unemployment rate remained low at 4.4 per cent in 2012, but youth unemployment was at 9.5 per cent.
  • Employment expanded only 0.5 per cent, or 4.5 million.
  • In 2012, only one in two workers was employed as a wage or salaried worker.
  • Labour productivity growth was 6.1 per cent in 2012 and projected to increase to 6.8 per cent in 2013.
  • Many workers have moved from low productivity sectors to more productive sectors, also during the crisis.
  • In addition to structural change, improvements in labour productivity in both the industry and services sectors have contributed significantly to growth and are expected to remain important contributors in 2011-17. (See 2nd chart below)
Mouse over the charts to see the values
 
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