Contact us

The International Institute for Labour Studies
4 route des Morillons
PO Box 6 CH-1211
Genève 22, Switzerland
  1. Tel: +41.(0)22. 799. 8133
  2. Fax: +41.(0)22.799.8542
  3. Email: inst@ilo.org

World of Work Report 2012

"Better Jobs for a Better Economy”

Please note that as of 2015 the World of Work Report has been replaced by a new annual ILO flagship series, the World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO). You can now find the latest global and regional labour market indicators, policy recommendations and in-depth analysis of a broad range of world of work issues on the WESO webpage.

  1. World of Work Report 2012

    The ILO launches its annual report “World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy”. The new study examines the performance of different countries since the start of the global crisis through the prism of the quantity and quality of jobs.

Videos

  1. © credit

     caption

    Video news release

    Jobs recovery threatened by fiscal austerity

    info

    The world needs to create 50 million jobs to return to pre-crisis employment levels, according to the ILO's World of Work 2012 report, but fiscal austerity and tough labour market reforms threaten the scenario for a true jobs recovery.

    links

  2. Video interview

    Interview with the authors of the report

    Steven Tobin and Marva Corley, Senior Economists at the ILO, explain the effect austerity measures and reduced public investment had on a deteriorated job market. In contrast, some countries implemented policies to successfully generate jobs and improve the quality of employment.

  3. Video coverage

    Highlights of the press conference

    Raymond Torres, Director of the ILO's International Institute for Labour Studies and lead author of study, depicts a grim picture for global employment.

Key findings of the report

  1. No recovery in sight for labour markets, warns ILO

    Despite signs that economic growth has resumed in some regions, the global employment situation is alarming and shows no sign of recovery in the near future.

  2. Right policy mix can lead to fiscal consolidation and job creation

    Between 1.8 and 2.1 million jobs could be created over a one-year period in advanced economies if governments adopt a more employment friendly approach to fiscal austerity.

  3. High unemployment and growing inequality fuel social unrest around the world

    More than half of 106 countries surveyed by the ILO face a growing risk of social unrest and discontent.

  • Employment rates have increased in only 6 of 36 advanced economies (Austria, Germany, Israel, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland) since 2007."

  • Youth unemployment rates have increased in about 80 % of advanced countries and in 66 % of developing countries."

  • Poverty rates have increased in half of developed economies and in one third of developing economies."

  • Inequality rose in half of developed countries and one-fourth of developing economies."

  • On average, more than 40 % of jobseekers in advanced economies have been without work for more than a year."

  • Involuntary part-time employment has increased in two-thirds of advanced economies."

  • The share of informal employment stands at more than 40 % in two-thirds of emerging and developing countries."

  • At 19.8 % of GDP in 2010, global investment remains 3.1 percentage points lower than the historical average, with a more pronounced downward trend in advanced economies."

Country briefs

  1. European Union

  2. Germany

  3. Italy

  4. Japan

  5. Latin America

  6. Spain

  7. United States