A PROFILE OF SOUTH ASIA AT WORK
87
FIGURE 3.2 Employment rates in lower- and lower-middle-income countries 90 Nepal
80 70
percent
Bhutan
Afghanistan
60
Bangladesh
50
Sri Lanka
India Pakistan
Maldives
40 30 20 10 0 0
2,000
4,000
6,000 8,000 10,000 2008 gross national income per capita in purchasing power parity dollars
12,000
14,000
Source: Authors, based on data from World Bank 2011b and national labor force and household surveys. Note: Employment rates are for population age 15 years and above. For all countries, gross national income per capita in 2008 is adjusted for purchasing power parity. Employment rates for countries in South Asia are for latest survey year; employment rates for other countries are for 2008.
FIGURE 3.3 Male and female employment rates in South Asia, by country 100 86
85
83
percent
80
80
75
79
78
67
61
60
81
44 40 29
29
38
35 22
20 0 Afghanistan 2008
Bangladesh 2009
Bhutan 2007
India 2010 male
Maldives 2004
Nepal 2008
Pakistan 2009
Sri Lanka 2008
female
Source: Authors, based on data from national labor force and household surveys.
rates increased in Maldives and Pakistan, declined moderately in India and Nepal and significantly in Bhutan, and remained fairly constant in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.1 These trends mirrored those of female employment rates, which increased in Maldives and
MBJSA_84-123.indd 87
Pakistan, declined in Bhutan and India, and changed little in the other countries. These employment figures are for the working-age population (15–64). Child labor, which this book does not address, remains an important aspect of the overall employment
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