STRENGTHEN2 hosted the 2nd symposium with IFIs on measuring quality of employment and long-term employment impact

The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), held a symposium titled “Measuring Quality of Employment and Long-Term Employment Impacts” on October 20-21, 2022. The symposium, organized jointly by the Multilateral Cooperation Department and the Employment Policy Department, was part of the STRENGTHEN2 project aiming at maximizing job creation in sub-Saharan Africa through employment impact assessments. The event gathered representatives from bilateral and multilateral development banks, experts from the ILO, and the European Commission to discuss best practices for assessing employment outcomes in investment projects.

This hybrid symposium was the second in a series of discussions on employment impact assessment, following an earlier event in February 2022. While the first event centred on understanding how financial institutions measure the employment effects of their investments, the October symposium shifted the focus to the quality of employment and long-term impacts. Over 50 participants, including representatives from institutions such as the European Investment Bank, African Development Bank, and World Bank, took part in the event.

During the first day, the symposium explored key questions around employment quality, asking what constitutes decent work and how it can be effectively measured. ILO’s framework on Decent Work Indicators, developed over years of consultation with global stakeholders, provided the foundation for this discussion. Participants highlighted the importance of ensuring that jobs created by development projects meet quality standards, such as fair income, security in the workplace, and social protection. The second half of the day focused on long-term employment impacts, presenting various assessment techniques used by financial institutions and discussing the challenges of data availability and consistency.
The second day took a more interactive approach, with participants working in teams to tackle data challenges related to measuring employment impacts. The “Solution Room” sessions allowed participants to exchange ideas on overcoming the gaps in employment quality data. Key topics included the need for more robust data collection mechanisms, harmonization of employment impact methodologies, and ways to foster collaboration across institutions.

The symposium provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and identifying synergies among participating institutions. Participants expressed optimism about future cooperation, with the majority agreeing that their institutions would benefit from the discussions. Several participants suggested that more events like this symposium be organized to continue the exchange of ideas and improve methodologies for measuring employment impacts.

As a key outcome, the symposium underscored the need for better coordination and transparency in employment impact assessments. By leveraging the insights shared during the event, the ILO and its partners are well-positioned to improve how they measure not just the number of jobs created but also the quality and sustainability of those jobs over time. This, in turn, will contribute to more informed decision-making and development policies aimed at promoting decent work globally.