Employment and labour productivity in high unemployment countries. (31st July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nattrass, Nicoli; Seekings, Jeremy
• Is Part Of: Development policy review. Volume 36(2018:Mar.)Supplement 2
• Page Start: O769
• Page End: O785
• Publication Date: 2018-07-31
• Subjects: Inclusive development -- International Labour Organization (ILO) -- job creation -- labour productivity -- labour‐intensive growth -- South Africa -- unemployment; Developing countries -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 338.91
• DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12313
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-6764

Abstract

Abstract: Contemporary development strategies emphasize labour productivity growth because it has historically underpinned rising living standards. Today, however, poverty reduction and inclusive development in those developing countries with high unemployment require increasing the employment rate even if this means lower average labour productivity. We critique the International Labour Organization (ILO) for its overly universalizing advocacy of high‐productivity growth strategies and for failing to confront the trade‐off between more and better‐quality jobs. This is particularly problematic in high unemployment contexts in Southern Africa, where labour productivity growth between 2000 and 2013 came at the cost of a falling employment rate.