On February 13, the International Labour Organization published the report Social and Employment Prospects in the World 2019. It outlines labor market trends and is intended to inform governments and business on issues of equality, sustainability and inclusion in work environments. The need to radically change employers’ approaches to recruiting staff and determining remuneration are among the priorities highlighted. Violence, harassment and gender issues were identified as further key challenges. The report will be considered by all members of the body at the 108th Session of the ILO in June 2019.

With regard to equality and work, the report states that in 2018 only 48% of women of working age were effectively participating in the labor market, while the male participation rate was 75%. This trend is also reflected in salaries, the severity of income gaps varying by economic activity.

Secondly, sustainability is as much about economic growth as it is about decent work. On average, low- and middle-income countries recorded an annual growth in gross domestic product of below 5%. More than one in five young people are out of work or education, reducing their opportunities for acquiring decent jobs in future

Finally, the problem of inclusion is linked to the informal nature of work and unemployment. The report notes that 40% of the world’s salaried workers and 85% of the self-employed worked informally throughout 2018. Meanwhile, it is estimated that in 2018 there were 172 million unemployed people in the world, which equates to a global unemployment rate of 5%.

Next steps

To reverse these numbers, the Organization argues that companies should promote policies to improve physical and legal working conditions. Also, the ILO seeks to eliminate gender differences in salaries and work duties, whether as a result of particular actions or from public policies in general. These proposals will be analyzed by the governments, companies and trade union organizations of the countries that make up the ILO amid the annual meeting that will take place in June of this year.