In the heart of the Agenda for Sustainable Development is the demand to end poverty worldwide. Decent work seems to be the best way to generate income for people worldwide under fair conditions. In 2017 according to calculations by the International Labour Organization (ILO), about 200 million people are unemployed, another 1.4 billion are underemployed. There is still a long way to go. Guy Ryder, the general director of ILO has found the time to discuss with DDD why unemployment is still growing, and the challenges of industry 4.0 for workers worldwide.

DDD: ILO has just published its World Employment Social Outlook (WESO): It estimates a total growth in unemployment. What are the reasons?

Guy Ryder: For a few years now, unemployment rates have been declining in most developed countries. Despite this trend, they remain above pre-crisis rates in many countries, notably in Europe but also in Canada. Also, the pace of employment gains is slowing across many developed countries.

At the global level, we see an increase in unemployment which is driven by deteriorating labour market conditions in emerging countries, largely as a result of the weak output and its labour market impact in a number of major emerging countries (e.g. Argentina, Brazil and Russian Federation).

We should recognize the urgent need to address these deteriorating labour market conditions. Too often we think that growth alone is the answer. We should remember that this is not just about the level of growth but also about the relationship between growth and decent and productive employment. We need to lay the groundwork to boost economic growth in an equitable and inclusive manner.

This requires a multi-facetted policy approach that addresses the underlying causes of weak aggregate demand, such as rising income inequality that results in lower purchasing power for much of the population. I believe a coordinated effort by countries that have fiscal space could limit the increase in global unemployment by close to two-thirds.

In sum, strong pro-employment and pro-equity policies are needed more than ever.

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