Leveraging Trade for More and Better Jobs

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report emphasizes the positive role of trade in job creation, labor earnings, and productivity, while also acknowledging the challenges and disparities in outcomes across different income levels and sectors [10][11][16][19] Summary by Sections Trade and Employment Levels - The share of employment tied to export activities increased from 26.5% in 2000 to 28.7% in 2018 across 71 countries [37] - Direct and indirect employment in exports rose by 133 million from 1995 to 2007, but declined by 45 million by 2018, particularly in low- and middle-income countries [40] Trade and Labor Earnings - Growing trade exposure is linked to higher labor earnings, with wage inequality decreasing in low- and middle-income countries due to global value chain integration [22] Trade and Labor Productivity - Labor productivity rises with export volumes, especially in low-tech manufacturing and agriculture, benefiting unskilled workers in developing countries [22][23] Trade and Job Quality - Job quality improves with increased exports, leading to transitions toward salaried positions and higher value-added activities [23] Gender and Trade - Firms engaged in international trade employ a higher percentage of women, with exporting firms showing a female labor share premium of around 4 percentage points on average [53][55]