联合国西亚经济社会委员会-走向富有成效和包容性的道路：在阿拉伯区域创造就业机会（英）-2021.8-93页_3mb

Summary of "Towards a Productive and Inclusive Path Job Creation in the Arab Region"

Core Content

This report, produced by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Office for Arab States, focuses on the challenges of job creation in the Arab region, particularly in the formal private sector, and proposes policy solutions to foster more inclusive and productive employment.

Main Issues and Findings

1. Labour Market Challenges

• High Unemployment Rates: The Arab region has the world's highest unemployment rates, especially among youth and women.
• Informal Employment: 64% of total employment in the region is informal, with poor working conditions and limited job stability.
• Skill Mismatch: Education and training systems do not align with the needs of the labour market, resulting in significant skill mismatch.
• Low Labour Force Participation Rates (LFPRs): LFPRs have remained stagnant since the 2000s, with women's participation rates being the lowest globally.
• Demographic Shift: The working-age population has grown significantly, but job creation has not kept pace, leading to high unemployment rates.

2. Impact of the Pandemic

• The pandemic has compounded existing issues, with nearly one third of the employed population facing high risks of layoff or reduced wages and hours of work.
• The region is expected to need around 33 million new jobs by 2030 to reduce the unemployment rate to 5%, and potentially up to 65 million if female participation is to be increased to match middle-income countries.

3. Structural Deficits in the Formal Private Sector

• The formal private sector plays a limited role in job creation, with low total factor productivity (TFP) and high capital-labour inequality.
• Employment elasticity is low, indicating weak growth in employment in response to economic activity.
• Technology and innovation have a varied impact on employment, with some sectors benefiting more than others.

4. Gender Inequality

• Women are underrepresented in business ownership and top management positions.
• Female employment is largely concentrated in quasi-public firms and sectors deemed female-friendly, such as computer-related fields and manufacturing.
• Addressing gender disparities is essential for inclusive growth and to improve the overall productivity and employment outcomes in the region.

Key Policy Recommendations

1. Labour Supply Side

• Enhance Education and Training Systems: Align curricula with market needs to reduce skill mismatch.
• Increase Female Labour Force Participation: Address cultural norms and improve access to decent employment for women.
• Invest in Education Infrastructure: Ensure access to technology and improve teacher skills to support the shift to e-learning and future IT dependence.

2. Labour Demand Side

• Support Formal Private Sector Growth: Implement policies to enhance productivity and encourage job creation.
• Promote Innovation: Encourage both product and process innovations to boost employment in the formal sector.
• Strengthen Governance and Policies: Improve economic conditions and structural transformation to support sustainable job creation.

3. Gender Inclusion

• Challenge Sociocultural Perceptions: Allow greater mobility and access for women in all economic sectors.
• Reform Labour Laws: Encourage female economic participation in the formal private sector.
• Support Female-Owned Firms: Improve access to finance and reduce gender-specific barriers to business development.

Way Forward

1. Short-Term Measures

• Expand social protection systems to support workers affected by the pandemic.
• Implement employment-guarantee schemes where appropriate to ensure job security and reduce poverty.

2. Medium- to Long-Term Measures

• Focus on structural transformation and diversification to reduce reliance on the public sector and promote private-sector growth.
• Support SMEs and encourage innovation to drive employment and productivity.
• Ensure that national policies are inclusive and equitable, especially for women and youth.

Conclusion

The report highlights the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address the structural and demographic challenges in the Arab region. It emphasizes the importance of the formal private sector in achieving inclusive and productive employment and calls for urgent policy reforms to ensure sustainable job creation and reduce inequalities. The pandemic has further exposed these vulnerabilities, making it imperative to build forward better and implement more effective strategies for the future.