Decent Work and Economic Growth

You will have to define decent for yourself….for you know best what works for you

And growth, as well

Then, we can either get started or keep drawing memory back

According to the Sustainable Development Goals desk at the United Nations, poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs.

Nearly 2.2 billion people live below the US$2 poverty line. Did you know this?

So many people out there are unemployed….if you like your math’s, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 204 million people were unemployed as of 2015.

Global unemployment increased from 170 million people in 2007 to nearly 202 million in 2012, of which about 75 million are young women and men.

So, as we discuss this, we should keep the promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all, in mind, heart and daily living.

Do we need more jobs? Yes

Do we need more jobs for human beings? Yes

Question is…how many?

470 million jobs and more are needed globally for new entrants to the labour market between 2016 and 2030, just to keep up with the growth of the global work­ing age population.

That’s around 30 million per year!

So if we all got a job, will extreme poverty end?

The answer to this is NO!

In addition to creating jobs, we also need to improve conditions for the some 780 million women and men who are working, but not earning enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

In addition, women and girls must enjoy equal access to equal oppor­tunities with men and boys for employment.

I have a job. Why does this matter to me?

Society as a whole ben­efits when more people are being productive and contributing to their coun­try’s growth.

Productive employment and “decent work” are key elements to achieving fair glo­balization and poverty reduction.

In addition, unemployment can lead to unrest and disrupt peace if it is left unaddressed.

By the way, what does “decent work” mean?

Decent work means opportunities for every­one to get work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration.

It is also important that all women and men are given equal opportuni­ties in the workplace.

A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insuf­ficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying democratic societies: that all must share in progress.

Is there something we can do to fix this? The answer to that is YES!

Providing youth the best opportunity to transition to a decent job calls for investing in education and training of the high­est possible quality, pro­viding youth with skills that match labour market demands, giving them access to social protection and basic services regard­less of their contract type, as well as leveling the playing field so that all aspiring youth can attain productive employment regardless of their gender, income level or socio-eco­nomic background.

Governments can work to build dynamic, sus­tainable, innovative and people-centred econo­mies, promoting youth employment and wom­en’s economic empow­erment, in particular, and decent work for all.

Local authorities and communities can renew and plan their cities and human settlements so as to foster community cohe­sion and personal security and to stimulate innova­tion and employment.

I feel lucky. Are you?