The International Labour Organization (ILO) has projected that the global unemployment rate will fall to 4.9% this year, down from last year's rate. However, concerns were raised over the persistent gender inequalities surrounding employment opportunities.
In its "Global Employment and Social Outlook" report released on the 29th (local time), the ILO forecasted the global unemployment rate for this year at 4.9%. This figure is a 0.3 percentage point downward revision from the previous forecast of 5.2% and is also below last year's global unemployment rate of 5.0%. However, this improving trend in unemployment is expected to stagnate from 2025 onward, remaining at the same 4.9% level as this year.
Additionally, the so-called "jobs gap," referring to the number of job seekers unable to secure employment, is estimated to reach 402 million this year. This figure includes 183 million unemployed individuals.
The report stated, "Despite efforts to reduce global inequalities, the labor market remains a field of unequal competition," highlighting the significant impact on developing countries and women in particular.
Among the global working-age population, 69.2% of men were employed, compared to only 45.6% of women.
Examining the jobs gap ratio in low-income countries, women accounted for 22.8%, far exceeding the 15.3% for men. This indicates a much higher number of women who want to work but remain unemployed. In advanced economies, the figures were 9.7% for women and 7.3% for men.
The report explained, "Even when employed, women, especially in low-income countries, tend to earn significantly less than men," noting that "women in advanced economies earn 73 cents for every dollar earned by men, while women in low-income countries earn only 44 cents."
Furthermore, the number of informal workers worldwide who do not benefit from labor relations laws or social insurance increased from 1.7 billion in 2005 to 2 billion this year. Consequently, the report concludes that an inclusive approach is urgently needed to reduce poverty and inequality.
Gilbert Umboh, ILO Director-General, stated, "This report highlights critical employment issues that we still need to address," emphasizing, "To achieve a sustainable recovery that benefits everyone, inclusive policies that consider the needs of all workers must be pursued."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
