2024-11-24-世界银行-拉丁美洲和加勒比地区的就业质量（英）_13页_934kb

Technical Note: The Quality of Jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean

This document by Karen Barreto, Hernan Winkler, Carolina Diaz Bonilla, and Diana Sanchez analyzes job quality in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), using the Job Quality Index (JQI). The JQI, based on Brummundi et al. (2018), incorporates four dimensions: earnings, benefits, security, and satisfaction, to assess job quality comprehensively.

The study finds substantial variation in job quality across LAC countries and within them. Chile and Costa Rica lead in JQI rankings, while countries like Guatemala and Honduras have lower quality jobs, particularly for groups such as women, youth, and rural workers. The employment-to-GDP elasticity increases with job quality adjustments, indicating that economic growth not only creates more jobs but better ones. Job quality improvements correlate with reductions in poverty and inequality, and are linked to higher labor productivity. Sectoral and regional analyses show that urban workers generally have better quality jobs than rural ones, and gender and age gaps in job quality exist across the region.

Key findings include geographic disparities, trends over time (with some countries showing increases and others declines), and associations with economic indicators. The analysis underscores the importance of considering job quality in development strategies.

Key Messages

• The JQI shows significant variation across countries, with Chile and Costa Rica leading.
• Important gaps in job quality exist within countries, affecting women, youth, and rural workers.
• Employment-to-GDP elasticity strengthens when adjusting for job quality, linking growth to better jobs.
• Increases in job quality often accompany declines in poverty and inequality.
• Low labor productivity is associated with poorer job quality.

Findings Summary

• Country-specific job quality disparities are evident, with Central American and Andean nations having lower benefits, and countries like Uruguay and Chile excelling.
• Trends indicate improvements in JQI for many countries over time.
• Job quality correlates strongly with poverty reduction, inequality, and GDP per capita across the region.
• Economic growth generally leads to more quality jobs, except in cases like Honduras, where productivity lags job creation.
• Urban areas consistently show higher job quality than rural ones, reflecting stages of structural transformation.
• Gender gaps vary by country, with Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador showing the largest disparities.
• Age gaps are widest among youth and prime-age workers, with notable variations across LAC nations.

Conclusion
Job quality exhibits considerable heterogeneity, tied to economic development and demographic factors. Targeted policies are needed to address inequalities and enhance overall job quality in LAC.