Global Arab Network | World Bank: MENA labor will exceed 40 million By 2050

Translate this article to your language:

GANPublications

e-Publications

Add Site to Favorites

Add Page to Favorites

Make Homepage

Share This Page

RSS Feed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |

World Bank: MENA labor will exceed 40 million By 2050

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Sunday, 29 March 2009 20:51

Global demographic developments will lead to far greater labor and job mobility in the coming decades. According to a new report released today by the World Bank MENA region: "Shaping the Future: A Long Term Perspective of People and Job Mobility for the Middle East and North Africa", by 2050 declining labor force in some regions could reach a total of 215 million workers while other regions may experience an increase in excess of 500 million. The findings of the report were jointly presented with the European Commission in Brussels.

The report was prepared by World Bank experts within the framework of a project sponsored by the European Commission through its Aeneas programme. It argues that the demand for skills globally will be characterized by higher qualification requirements at all occupational levels. However, labor-abundant regions including the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia regions are not yet ready to meet this global demand.

"The example of MENA and Europe is particularly telling. By 2050, Europeís labor force is expected to decline by 66 million people while MENA labor force growth will exceed 40 million. At the same time, the demand for mid-level skills in Europe will reach its peak. Education outcomes and women participation in the labor force would have to improve significantly for MENA workers to seize the job opportunities offered by the European market" said Leila Zlaoui, the main author of the report.

Global Arab Network

< Prev		Next >

Add comment

The opinions of the authors in articles published are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Global Arab Network
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published comments are the opinions of private individuals and do not reflect the views of Global Arab Network