Group 1 - The International Labour Organization (ILO) projects a global unemployment rate of approximately 4.9% by 2026, equating to around 186 million people [1] - Nearly 300 million workers are currently living in extreme poverty, earning less than $3 a day, while informal employment continues to expand, with an estimated 2.1 billion workers engaged in informal work by 2026 [1] - Youth and women face significant employment challenges, with a projected global youth unemployment rate of 12.4% in 2025, affecting about 260 million young people, and a labor participation rate for women that is 24% lower than that of men [1] Group 2 - Global trade disruptions are adding uncertainty to the labor market, particularly affecting worker incomes in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Europe, despite trade being a crucial support for global employment [2] - Trade is identified as a potential driver for decent work, creating more job opportunities for women and youth, with digital services accounting for 14.5% of global export value [2] - Over 465 million jobs are supported by trade globally, with more than half of these jobs concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region [2]

Core Insights - The employment figures in Ghana show an increase of over 330,000 jobs in the first three quarters of 2025, with the labor force population exceeding 15 million and an average unemployment rate of 12.8% [1] Employment Quality Challenges - Employment quality remains a significant challenge, with over two-thirds of individuals engaged in vulnerable sectors, particularly affecting women, rural workers, and those in agriculture [1] - Self-employment continues to dominate, with limited opportunities for stable wage employment, indicating that job growth alone does not ensure economic resilience for households [1] Gender and Regional Disparities - There are notable gender and regional disparities in employment, with more women employed than men, yet the unemployment rate is higher for women [1] - Urban areas consistently show higher employment levels and unemployment rates compared to rural areas [1] Youth Unemployment - The youth unemployment rate is above the national average, with an average unemployment rate of 32.5% for individuals aged 15 to 24, and a staggering 49.3% in the Greater Accra region for the same age group in the second quarter [1] Labor Utilization and Skills Mismatch - The underutilization rate of the labor force has risen to 23.4%, with significant skill mismatches between urban and rural areas [1] - Nearly half of the employed individuals express interest in shift work [1] Recommendations for Employment Improvement - The statistical office calls for prioritizing youth employment, enhancing apprenticeship programs, promoting formal employment, improving financing channels, and strengthening labor protections to reduce vulnerable employment [1] - There is a need to align skill development with labor market demands [1]

Core Insights - Colombia has the second-highest level of informal employment in Latin America, with approximately 69.2% of the workforce engaged in informal jobs [1] Employment Structure - The informal employment is primarily concentrated in individual businesses and micro-units, which limits workers' access to social security, stable income, and labor rights [1] - Despite a recovery in employment numbers post-pandemic, the quality of jobs remains weak, with nearly half of the labor force in Latin America still in informal employment [1] Gender and Urban-Rural Disparities - There are significant gender and urban-rural disparities in informal employment rates, highlighting structural issues within the labor market [1]

Core Insights - The report highlights the significant role of informal employment in the circular economy, with over half of the jobs in this sector being informal, providing opportunities for decent work and sustainable development [1][2]. Employment Statistics - Globally, 121 million to 142 million people are directly engaged in circular economy activities, accounting for 5% to 5.8% of total employment, with actual numbers likely higher due to unreported informal jobs [2] - Among the reported circular economy jobs, over 74 million are informal, representing more than 50% of the total [2] - Specific sectors show high rates of informal employment, such as 58.4% in urban public transport, 48.9% in automotive repair and second-hand retail, and 72.7% in personal and household goods repair [2] Contribution to Sustainable Development - The circular economy positively impacts environmental sustainability by reducing resource extraction, waste generation, carbon emissions, and pollution, while promoting the recycling of renewable materials [3] - Economically, it decreases reliance on single-use resources and enhances supply chain resilience [3] - Socially, it provides job opportunities for informal workers and improves equity and accessibility in shared services like public transport [3] Employment Characteristics - Repair and maintenance work constitutes 46% of circular economy jobs, representing a key intersection of "green jobs and sustainable employment" [3] - The circular economy is becoming a crucial employment engine for sustainable development through labor-intensive roles, skill enhancement, and the transition to a service-oriented economy [3] Challenges and Recommendations for Informal Employment - Informal employment is central to the circular economy but also represents its most vulnerable aspect, with workers facing low and uncertain incomes, lack of social security, high occupational risks, and inadequate tools and technology [4] - Protecting informal workers is essential for advancing the circular economy, necessitating legal recognition and practical pathways for formalization [4] - Recommendations include expanding social security coverage, improving conditions for informal workers, and extending occupational safety and health regulations to cover informal workers and micro-enterprises [4]

Group 1 - The unemployment rate in Brazil decreased to 5.8% in Q2 2025, the lowest since 2012, down from 7.0% in Q1 and 6.9% year-on-year [1] - The number of unemployed individuals reached 6.3 million, a reduction of over 1.3 million from Q1, representing a decline of 17.4% [1] - The total employment reached 102.3 million, with a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.8% and a year-on-year increase of 2.4% [1] Group 2 - The average real monthly salary in Brazil rose to 3,477 reais in Q2, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter growth of 1.1% and a year-on-year growth of 3.3%, marking a historical high [2] - The total wage bill reached 351.2 billion reais, also a record high, with a quarterly increase of 2.9% and an annual increase of 5.9% [2] - The number of discouraged workers, or those who have stopped looking for jobs, fell to 2.8 million, the lowest since 2016, with a quarter-on-quarter decline of 13.7% [2] Group 3 - The public sector saw significant growth, particularly in education, with the number of public employees reaching 12.8 million, a quarterly increase of 5.0% and an annual increase of 3.4% [2] - The informal employment rate decreased to 37.8%, with the number of informal workers at 38.7 million, the lowest level since 2020 [1] - The Brazilian Central Bank maintained the Selic rate at 15% to address inflation challenges amid rising income levels and increased service prices [2]

Core Insights - The informal economy plays a significant role in the county's social structure, with many individuals engaged in informal employment due to its low barriers and high flexibility [1][2] Group 1: Characteristics of Informal Employment - Informal employment primarily consists of casual work without formal labor contracts or social security, which is crucial for understanding the production and living conditions in county societies [2] - In Yao County, informal employment is common, with many individuals relying on it as their main source of income, particularly among rural populations [2][4] - Workers like Zhou Shu, who primarily engage in casual labor, often find that their income can be comparable to or even exceed that of formal factory jobs, despite the lack of stability [4][5] Group 2: Demographics of Informal Workers - The majority of informal workers in Yao County are male, with women typically taking on more stable roles as full-time mothers or factory workers [7][8] - Middle-aged and older individuals are more prevalent in informal employment compared to younger workers, who tend to seek stable job opportunities [9][10] - Many elderly individuals also participate in informal work, such as selling agricultural products at markets, to supplement their income [10] Group 3: Economic Context - Yao County's economy is primarily based on agriculture and tourism, with limited high-value job opportunities, leading to a "low income - high consumption" balance among residents [11] - The informal employment market is closely linked to the county's industrial development; a richer and more active industrial environment could stabilize the informal economy [11] - Currently, the informal economy does not significantly contribute to the formal economic system, as the appeal of formal employment is low for many informal workers due to inadequate income and perceived restrictions on personal freedom [11]