10 | The Millennium Development Goals Report 2014
In 2013, global economic growth slowed to its lowest rate since 2009. The weak and uneven global economic recovery continued to take its toll on labour markets, particularly in the developing world. This was reflected in limited progress in the reduction of low-quality employment, which has been widespread in most developing countries.
Target 1.B Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people
Slow economic growth takes its toll on labour markets Changes in proportion of own-account and contributing family workers in total employment, 2003–2008 and 2008–2013 (Percentage) Latin America and the Caribbean -4.3 0.3 Sub-Saharan Africa -1.7 -0.5 Northern Africa -0.5
The slowdown in the decrease in vulnerable employment affected most regions, and was most pronounced in Western Asia. In that region, the vulnerable employment rate decreased by only 1.2 percentage points in 2008– 2013, compared to more than 8 percentage points in 2003–2008. The vulnerable employment rate increased in Latin America and the Caribbean, while Oceania experienced a significantly larger decrease in 2008–2013 than in the preceding period.
-0.5 Western Asia -8.3 -1.2 Caucasus and Central Asia -5.6 -1.8 South-Eastern Asia -4.0 -2.4 Southern Asia -2.4 -2.4 Oceania -0.1 -2.7 Eastern Asia -5.5 -5.6 Developed regions -0.5 -0.1 Developing regions -4.0 -2.8 -10
-9
-8
-7
2003–2008
-6
-5
-4
2008–2013
-3
-2
-1
0
Vulnerable employment rate—defined as the percentage of own-account and unpaid family workers in total employment—accounted for an estimated 56 per cent of all employment in developing regions in 2013, compared to 10 per cent in developed regions. This rate decreased by 2.8 percentage points in the period of 2008–2013, compared to a decrease of 4.0 percentage points in the preceding five-year period (2003–2008). A high proportion of workers in vulnerable employment signifies widespread informal working arrangements. Workers in such situations usually lack adequate social protection and suffer low incomes and arduous working conditions under which their fundamental rights may be violated.
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