The Role of Decent Work Statistics in Times of Jobs Crisis Rafael Diez de Medina Chief Statistician, Director Department of Statistics Department of Statistics International Labour Office World Statistics Day, Geneva 20 October 2010

Decent work as a global goal ILC report (1999) describes decent work as ILC report (1999) describes decent work as “opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity”. “opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity”. Endorsed by ECOSOC, Presidential Summits and Head of State Summits in all regions, UN system, European Union, etc. Endorsed by ECOSOC, Presidential Summits and Head of State Summits in all regions, UN system, European Union, etc. ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008) endorses Decent Work Agenda: ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008) endorses Decent Work Agenda: (i) Rights at work, (ii) Employment; (iii) Social Protection; (iv) Social Dialogue and tripartism. (i) Rights at work, (ii) Employment; (iii) Social Protection; (iv) Social Dialogue and tripartism.

Decent Work at risk Labour market distress is rising and this trend will continue well into 2011 and further. Labour market distress is rising and this trend will continue well into 2011 and further. Unemployment which stood at over 6% early in the decade before decreasing between 2004 and 2007, has since increased dramatically to reach about 10% on average in Unemployment which stood at over 6% early in the decade before decreasing between 2004 and 2007, has since increased dramatically to reach about 10% on average in Relative to 2007, in 2010, there are 31 million more unemployed (209 million unemployed), the highest ever recorded. Relative to 2007, in 2010, there are 31 million more unemployed (209 million unemployed), the highest ever recorded. Danger of long-term damage to job prospects and productivity of current cohort of youth. Danger of long-term damage to job prospects and productivity of current cohort of youth. Strain on statistical resources to address the urgent decent work deficit Strain on statistical resources to address the urgent decent work deficit

The impact of the crisis on real GDP and unemployment: country experiences differ strikingly Changes in GDP (in percent) vs. Changes in Unemployment rate (UR, in percentage points) in 2009

Three margins of labour market adjustment during the crisis

Commitments to monitor progress towards decent work 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization recommends that ILO Members may consider: 2008 Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization recommends that ILO Members may consider: “the establishment of appropriate indicators or statistics, if necessary with the assistance of the ILO, to monitor and evaluate the progress made” “the establishment of appropriate indicators or statistics, if necessary with the assistance of the ILO, to monitor and evaluate the progress made” Monitoring of MDG Goal 1, Target 2: Monitoring of MDG Goal 1, Target 2: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people. Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people. Strategic partnerships with NSOs, Ministries of Labour, Social Security institutions, International organizations, development banks, Academia, workers’ and employers’ organizations, etc. Strategic partnerships with NSOs, Ministries of Labour, Social Security institutions, International organizations, development banks, Academia, workers’ and employers’ organizations, etc.

Present challenges facing Decent Work Statistics Disparities in availability and quality Disparities in availability and quality Lack of harmonization and fragmentation due to lack of coordination between organizations and donors Lack of harmonization and fragmentation due to lack of coordination between organizations and donors Need to strengthen NSOs and other producers of Decent Work indicators. Need to strengthen NSOs and other producers of Decent Work indicators. Reaffirming the need for coherent national statistical systems Reaffirming the need for coherent national statistical systems Passive involvement among developing countries in the standard-setting process Passive involvement among developing countries in the standard-setting process Need to have more and timelier data for monitoring Need to have more and timelier data for monitoring Limited accessibility to information from some major economies Limited accessibility to information from some major economies Political concerns remain in some countries over releasing information! Political concerns remain in some countries over releasing information!

Topics which have gained prominence during the jobs crisis Growing world labour force: need to have better estimates Growing world labour force: need to have better estimates Informality Informality Youth unemployment Youth unemployment Discouraged workers Discouraged workers Sectorial labour statistics Sectorial labour statistics Labour migration Labour migration Wage inequality Wage inequality Rise of insecure forms of work (hours of work, self employment, temporary contracts) Rise of insecure forms of work (hours of work, self employment, temporary contracts) Labour share, Productivity and Labour costs Labour share, Productivity and Labour costs Impact of stimulus packages Impact of stimulus packages

Labour statistics & decent work Decent work dimensions have not been adequately covered in the past system of labour statistics. Decent work dimensions have not been adequately covered in the past system of labour statistics. Historically, labour market statistics have taken a macro-perspective on an economy and focused on: Historically, labour market statistics have taken a macro-perspective on an economy and focused on: Labour supply and labour demand in an economy Labour supply and labour demand in an economy Employment and unemployment statistics; ICLS ) Employment and unemployment statistics; ICLS ) Volume of work and labour cost in an economy Volume of work and labour cost in an economy Statistics of wages and hours of work (ICLS 1923, ) Statistics of wages and hours of work (ICLS 1923, ) Classifications: Classifications: Classification of industries and occupations (ICLS 1923, 1925 …) Classification of industries and occupations (ICLS 1923, 1925 …) International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) (ICLS 1949,..., 1988, 2008) International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) (ICLS 1949,..., 1988, 2008) International classification according to status in employment (ICSE) (ICLS 1957, 1993, 1998) International classification according to status in employment (ICSE) (ICLS 1957, 1993, 1998)

Principles and framework for measuring decent work Purpose: (i) to assist constituents to assess progress towards decent work (PRS, National development frameworks and DWCP) and (ii) to offer comparable information for analysis and policy development. Purpose: (i) to assist constituents to assess progress towards decent work (PRS, National development frameworks and DWCP) and (ii) to offer comparable information for analysis and policy development. NO ranking of countries & NO composite index. NO ranking of countries & NO composite index. Needs to cover all four dimensions of Decent Work derived from various sources: household and establishment surveys, administrative records, qualitative information, among others. Needs to cover all four dimensions of Decent Work derived from various sources: household and establishment surveys, administrative records, qualitative information, among others. New framework recommended by the 18 th ICLS New framework recommended by the 18 th ICLS Model of international relevance that permits the adaptation to national circumstances Model of international relevance that permits the adaptation to national circumstances Has the potential to evolve dynamically over the years. Has the potential to evolve dynamically over the years. A layered approach to indicators: Main, Additional, Context, Future and Legal Framework indicators A layered approach to indicators: Main, Additional, Context, Future and Legal Framework indicators

Grouping of Decent Work Indicators Grouping of indicators under 10 substantive elements of the Decent Work Agenda plus one area on economic and social context: Grouping of indicators under 10 substantive elements of the Decent Work Agenda plus one area on economic and social context: 1. Employment opportunities (1 + 2) 1. Employment opportunities (1 + 2) 2. Adequate earnings and productive work (1 + 3) 2. Adequate earnings and productive work (1 + 3) 3. Decent hours (1 + 3) 3. Decent hours (1 + 3) 4. Combining work, family and personal life (1 + 3) 4. Combining work, family and personal life (1 + 3) 5. Work that should be abolished (1 + 3) 5. Work that should be abolished (1 + 3) 6. Stability and security of work (1, 2 + 3) 6. Stability and security of work (1, 2 + 3) 7. Equal opportunity and treatment in employment (1, 2 + 3) 7. Equal opportunity and treatment in employment (1, 2 + 3) 8. Safe work environment (1 + 3) 8. Safe work environment (1 + 3) 9. Social security (1 + 3) 9. Social security (1 + 3) 10. Social dialogue, workers’ and employers’ representation (1 + 4) 10. Social dialogue, workers’ and employers’ representation (1 + 4) 11. Economic and social context for decent work 11. Economic and social context for decent work Note: (1) Rights at work (2) Employment opportunities (3) Social Protection (4) Social Dialogue

How the ILO is moving forward (i) Creation of the ILO Department of Statistics reporting to the DG (2009) Creation of the ILO Department of Statistics reporting to the DG (2009) New mandate: assuring quality in statistical methods and products, promoting coordination and coherence within the different ILO units (child labour, labour market trends, social protection databases, regional information systems, etc.) New mandate: assuring quality in statistical methods and products, promoting coordination and coherence within the different ILO units (child labour, labour market trends, social protection databases, regional information systems, etc.) Enhancing data compilation to cope with increased demand (short-term and annual data) Enhancing data compilation to cope with increased demand (short-term and annual data) Development of new user-friendly, interactive ILO statistical database and portal Development of new user-friendly, interactive ILO statistical database and portal

How the ILO is moving forward (ii) Development and application of time-series techniques at the international level (outliers, seasonal adjustment, etc.) Development and application of time-series techniques at the international level (outliers, seasonal adjustment, etc.) Strengthening ILO’s technical assistance to developing countries Strengthening ILO’s technical assistance to developing countries Capacity building to help constituents (NSOs, Ministries of labour, Social Security Institutions, workers’ and employers’ associations, etc.) Capacity building to help constituents (NSOs, Ministries of labour, Social Security Institutions, workers’ and employers’ associations, etc.) Launching of Working Groups to discuss emerging topics for the 19th ICLS (2013) : labour underutilization, international classification by status of employment and others Launching of Working Groups to discuss emerging topics for the 19th ICLS (2013) : labour underutilization, international classification by status of employment and others Active involvement in the G20 reporting and discussion Active involvement in the G20 reporting and discussion Statistical background to IMF/ILO conference in Oslo highlighing labour’s role in emerging from the crisis Statistical background to IMF/ILO conference in Oslo highlighing labour’s role in emerging from the crisis

“Better measuring progress in the realization of decent work is key to the realization of the Decent Work Agenda. We are placing high priority on enhancing the empirical basis of decent work policies and providing relevant and timely data that is being requested of us.” “Better measuring progress in the realization of decent work is key to the realization of the Decent Work Agenda. We are placing high priority on enhancing the empirical basis of decent work policies and providing relevant and timely data that is being requested of us.” “The ILO is committed to constantly striving to improve its statistical capability to support national efforts. The mandate and capacity of the ILO Department of Statistics has been strengthened to meet this objective.” “The ILO is committed to constantly striving to improve its statistical capability to support national efforts. The mandate and capacity of the ILO Department of Statistics has been strengthened to meet this objective.” “A more comprehensive set of data is indispensable to better diagnose trends shaping the world of work and ultimately the lives of women and men, families and communities. We need the skilful data producers and the sharp analysts who can relate their statistical capability to the realities of the world of work and who can communicate effectively with policy makers and all who draw on their statistics to shape a world of decent work for all. Today, we celebrate “the service, the professionalism and the integrity” of official statistics in the world.” “A more comprehensive set of data is indispensable to better diagnose trends shaping the world of work and ultimately the lives of women and men, families and communities. We need the skilful data producers and the sharp analysts who can relate their statistical capability to the realities of the world of work and who can communicate effectively with policy makers and all who draw on their statistics to shape a world of decent work for all. Today, we celebrate “the service, the professionalism and the integrity” of official statistics in the world.” “The international statistical community will find in the ILO a committed ally in this journey.” “The international statistical community will find in the ILO a committed ally in this journey.” Excerpts from today’s statement by ILO’s Director General Amb. Juan Somavia Excerpts from today’s statement by ILO’s Director General Amb. Juan Somavia

Thank you! Thank you!