Labor Market Policies under a Youth Bulge: How to Benefit from Demographic Dividend in Pakistan

Robalino, David ; Cho, Yoonyoung

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Abstract

This paper assesses labor market trends and outcomes in Pakistan over the past decade. It shows that despite a high rate of employment growth, labor market outcomes have been disappointing: most jobs have been created in low productivity sectors/activities, and even if they provide a minimum level of income to often avoid poverty, they remain low quality jobs providing little or no protection to workers against shocks. In addition, female participation rates for women are very low and there are large income disparities between rural and urban areas, and across sectors. A fundamental part of the problem is the low level of education of the labor force. Pakistan is currently in the midst of a demographic transition that is bringing a growing number of youth into the labor market. This youth bulge that is unwinding opens both challenges and opportunities. Challenges because of the need to create enough jobs to employ new entrants; Opportunities, because if this is done the country will enjoy a demographic dividend , as the share of those employed relative to the dependent increases, driving up income per capita and standards of living.

Document type: Working paper
Place of Publication: Washington, D.C.
Date: 2012
Version: Secondary publication
Date Deposited: 26 Jun 2015
Number of Pages: 60
Faculties / Institutes: Miscellaneous > Individual person
DDC-classification: Economics
Controlled Keywords: Pakistan, Arbeitsmarkt, Bevölkerungsentwicklung
Uncontrolled Keywords: Pakistan, Jugendliche, Demografischer Wandel, Arbeitsmarkt / Pakistan, Youth, Demographic Change, Labour Market
Subject (classification): Economics
Countries/Regions: Pakistan
Additional Information: © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/17874 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO