4 October 2013: The UN Development Group (UNDG) has released the final report of the global consultations on growth and employment in the post-2015 development agenda. ‘Growth and Employment in the Post-2015 Agenda: Messages from A Global Consultation’ is compiled from contributions by experts, policymakers, civil society, and the public, who submitted their ideas online and at in-person events.
Six central issue areas that contributors found important are: employment generation; inclusive growth through decent jobs; productive sectors; social protection; workers’ voices; and a reformed global economic governance for the developing world. The marginalization of certain groups from the labor market also is stressed, including women and girls, people with disabilities, migrants, older people, and racial minorities.
The report suggests that structural transformation of less developed economies is necessary for those states to transition to more diversified production activities that are more energy-efficient and emit less carbon. Consultations suggest that “respect for rights, justice, and reducing inequalities” should be central to the entire post-2015 agenda, and that the important roles of agriculture, education, environmental sustainability, and domestic governance are cross-cutting.
The report proposes a stand-alone goal on employment, with targets to measure growth, productivity and structural transformation, social protection policies, and inequalities. Such a goal on employment must take into account the difficulties in measuring work, and extensive labor force surveys would need to be conducted around the world.
The consultation on growth and employment was one of 11 thematic consultations organized by UNDG to support UN Member States in negotiating and formulating the post-2015 development agenda.
The consultation was led and supported by the Government of Japan, with additional support from the Government of Norway. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) organized the work and convened an Advisory Group to guide the process, comprising representatives from several UN bodies and other stakeholders. The consultation began with a global thematic meeting in May 2012, in Tokyo, Japan, followed by discussions that were shared at a briefing to UN Member States in New York, US, in December 2012. From January to March 2013, UNDP organized four e-discussions on the World We Want website. Finally, in June 2013, the Government of Japan, ILO, UNDP and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) organized a multi-stakeholder meeting in New York to present the key messages and seek feedback.Participants also discussed options for concrete targets and indicators on employment and related indicators.
An experts’ meeting is planned later in 2013 to come up with specific proposals on possible indicators. [Publication: Growth and Employment in the Post-2015 Agenda: Messages from A Global Consultation] [Growth and Employment Consultations Website] [IISD RS Story on Final Consultation Event] [IISD RS Coverage of Global Thematic Consultations]