The working poor – or how a job is no guarantee of decent living conditions

employment, working poor
May 22, 2019

This slideshow presents the main results of a study based on ILO's global estimates of employment by economic class (including the working poverty rate) featured in our latest issue of Spotlight on Work Statistics.

The world has made outstanding progress during the past two decades in reducing working poverty. What is more, the improvements are noteworthy in all regions.

However, progress has slowed down in recent years. This points to the need for renewed efforts to ensure that all workers have decent living conditions.

This slideshow summarizes the findings of a study based on ILO’s global estimates of employment by economic class. It is featured in our latest issue of Spotlight on Work Statistics.

We've managed to halve working poverty, but with 8% of workers around the world still living in extreme poverty, it is certainly not enough.

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Global employment distribution by economic class (2018) — For a large share of the world’s workers, having a job is not enough to keep them and their families out of poverty. This points to issues of job quality and particularly, the inadequacy of earnings.

Evolution of the global employment distribution by economic class and the working poverty rate (2000-2018) — For a large share of the world's workers, having a job is not enough to keep them and their families out of poverty. This points to issues of job quality and particularly, the inadequacy of earnings.

Annual growth rates of global employment and working poverty (2011-2023) — Although the share of workers living in extreme poverty has been declining since 2000, it is not enough.

Poverty rates and working poverty rate for the world and by income group (2015) — Employment is not a fool proof protection against poverty. In fact, the difference between working poverty rates and poverty rates is small. This suggests that the employed are as likely to be poor as people outside the labour market.

Employment distribution by economic class, for the world and by region (2018) — The shares of workers living in extreme and moderate poverty vary across regions. The situation is most alarming in Africa.

Evolution of the working poverty rate by region (2000-2018) — The working poverty rate underwent a widespread decrease in the past two decades. However, progress was uneven across regions.

Evolution of the working poverty rate by income group (2000-2018) — The working poverty rate has continuously declined since 2000 in all country income groups. Nonetheless, the levels of working poverty remain high in low-income countries.

Distribution of the world's employment and working poverty by region and by income group (2018) — The prevalence of working poverty in Africa is still overwhelming. In fact, the African working poor represented more than half (56%) of the world’s working poor in 2018. Conversely, African employment represented only 14% of the world's employment.

Male, female, youth and adults working poverty rates by region (2018) — Employment is not a fool proof protection against poverty. In fact, the difference between working poverty rates and poverty rates is small. This suggests that the employed are as likely to be poor as people outside the labour market.

Evolution of male, female, youth and adults' working poverty rates (2000-2018) — The gap between the adult and youth working poverty rates remains large. What is more, it has declined only modestly over the past two decades. There is an urgent need for targeted action to address the specific vulnerabilities of youth in the labour market.

Selected key labour market indicators by region (2018) — The regions with highest working poverty rates are also the ones with highest informality rates. This implies that deficits in job quality are not limited to the inadequacy of earnings. Indeed, they may also include lack of social protection and job security.

If you found this interesting, take the time to read the full brief.

Rosina Gammarano

Rosina is an Economist in the Data Production and Analysis Unit of the ILO Department of Statistics, currently seconded to the UN Resident Coordinator’s team in Mexico. In the ILO, she was the focal point on SDG labour market indicators and a recurrent author for Spotlight on Work Statistics. Passionate about addressing inequality and gender issues, she is now sharing her expertise with the UN Mexico office.

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