Despite low unemployment rate around the world... it seems that the majority of the global labor force still have jobs that are low paid and lack social or employment benefits.
Kim Ji-yeon explains.
A report by the International Labour Organization shows the global unemployment rate has slightly decreased but that the quality of jobs is worsening.
The ILO's 'World Employment Social Outlook Trends 2019' report released on Wednesday shows 172-million people were jobless last year... with the global jobless rate tallied at five-percent... the lowest level since 1998.
The report projected the rate would stay at the 4-point-9-percent level from next year until 2022.
Nonetheless, being in employment does not always guarantee a decent living.
The report said that 61-percent of the global work force were found to have jobs that are considered indecent... meaning employees did not enjoy adequate levels of economic security and lacked sufficient material well-being as well as too few opportunities for advancement.
In fact, it showed 700-million people were living in extreme or moderate poverty despite having employment.
These types of jobs were most prevalent among those working in the agriculture sector.
The report also pointed out the disparities between the genders in labor force participation.
It states 75-percent of men around the world are employed, but the rate for women is stuck at 48-percent... adding that female workers are exposed to more risks of unemployment and low pay compared to male counterparts.
The problem is universal, the report stated, although the gender gap is widest in the Arab States, northern Africa and south Asia.
Another concern is youth unemployment... with the report stating that more than one in five people under 25 years old are not employed, in education or training.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.
