Global Employment Trends 2013: Facts and figures for South Asia
- Economic growth weakened and did not deliver significant numbers of jobs and decent work.
- Unemployment rates remained low, projected at 3.8 per cent in 2012, but youth unemployment was estimated at 9.6 per cent.
- A large share of workers remained in agriculture, in the urban informal sector or in unprotected jobs in the formal sector.
- Female labour force participation remains low.
- The goal of creating more decent work will be even more elusive in 2013.
- There are widespread skills and education mismatches: many South Asians are leaving school or university without skills that are demanded by employers. Many of these young people “queue” for a job in the public sector.
- Labour productivity improvements within services contributed significantly to growth. (see 2nd chart below)
- Structural change has also contributed significantly to growth, but to a lesser extent during the crisis.
Mouse over the charts to see the values