“The real complaint of the worker is the insecurity of his existence. He is not sure he will always have a job, he is not sure he will always be healthy, and he foresees that one day he will be old and unable to work.” Although these words sound like they were written for today, they were penned over a century ago by Otto von Bismarck, the German chancellor known … [Read more...] about Bridging the Gap: Expanding Social Security for All Workers
The demographic wave drives the silver economy in Latin America and the Caribbean
When Gabriel García Márquez was working on one of his most iconic stories, “No One to Writes to the Colonel,” it was 1960, and in Colombia, each woman had an average of nearly seven children. He himself had 11 siblings, which was not unusual in his hometown of Aracataca. Twenty years later, he could have titled his work “Chronicle of an Announced Aging,” because the fertility … [Read more...] about The demographic wave drives the silver economy in Latin America and the Caribbean
Employment in G20: Promoting Diversity and a Just Transition
In 2024, Brazil chaired the G20, a coalition of the world’s largest economies that encompasses nearly two-thirds of the global workforce. On the occasion of the G20 Summit held on November 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro, this blog post summarizes the key discussions that took place within the Employment Working Group (EWG), with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) participating … [Read more...] about Employment in G20: Promoting Diversity and a Just Transition
Caregivers for Older People in Latin America and the Caribbean: Overburdened and Underpaid
In Latin America and the Caribbean, there are currently 8 million older people with care needs, and due to rapid population aging, this figure is projected to triple by 2050. To cater to the needs of older people, there is a workforce of 3 million paid caregivers, and at least 8 million unpaid caregivers in the region. Yet, the people who provide care for older people—face … [Read more...] about Caregivers for Older People in Latin America and the Caribbean: Overburdened and Underpaid
Job Skills: What Are They and Which Ones Are Most in Demand?
Much is said about "new skills for work". They are the ones employers look for in everchanging industries and get updated almost at the same rate as our smartphones get updated. That was the metaphor that a colleague at IDB's Labor Markets Division used when he invited me to think about workers' skills development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The way we work in the … [Read more...] about Job Skills: What Are They and Which Ones Are Most in Demand?