Image: Dennis Jarvis/Flickr
8. Decent work and economic growth

8. Decent work and economic growth

Over the past 25 years the number of workers living in extreme poverty has declined dramatically, despite the lasting impact of the 2008 economic crisis and global recession. In developing countries, the middle class now makes up more than 34 percent of total employment – a number that has almost tripled between 1991 and 2015.

However, as the global economy continues to recover we are seeing slower growth, widening inequalities, and not enough jobs to keep up with a growing labour force. According to the International Labour Organization, more than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015.

Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Image: U.S. Agency for International Development/Flickr
Image: U.S. Agency for International Development/Cambodia HARVEST/Fintrac Inc
Image: U.S. Agency for International Development/Flickr
Image: UNDP DRC

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News

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Proposed revisions to China’s mineral resources law could have a global impact as its mining companies expand operations overseas.
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Not enough is being done to protect workers' health as heatwaves fuelled by climate change increase the risks, labour experts say.
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Unemployment is voters' top election concern - especially among young Indians who are struggling to find skilled, permanent jobs.
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Opinion

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India is on its way to becoming the third-largest economy in the world, yet unemployment among young people with graduate degrees is at an all-time high.
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Human health relies on healthy ecosystems, but these are under threat. Securing the right to live in a healthy environment is crucial for all.
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Air pollution is a 'silent killer', say former New Zealand PM and former WHO chief scientist.
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China’s decision to ramp up spending could accelerate a shift and help achieve long-term climate goals by bringing forward the peak in fossil-fuel use and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
All Decent work and economic growth Opinion →

Videos

EB NVPC Corporate Purpose Video
EB Studio Amid fresh debates about what corporate purpose should be, there is mounting evidence that corporate purpose leads to stronger brand reputation, better talent attraction and more resilience, leading to improved financial performance.
BCG video Eco-Business
EB Studio Asia's green transition pathways need to be socially inclusive given huge differences in economic development across the region, says experts at the Boston Consulting Group. State-owned enterprises have an "outsized" role to play, they add.
Journey to net-zero Keppel video
EB Studio Our urban infrastructure is responsible for almost 40 per cent of global carbon emissions. Climate solutions need to include the biggest energy guzzlers, clean energy and retrofitting old buildings.
Women in STEM
Women play a key role in developing innovations to push for sustainability, but barriers remain to their entry into STEM careers. To celebrate International Day of Women & Girls in Science, EB Impact speaks to three women in science on making an impact and pursuing careers in STEM.
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Podcasts

EB Podcast climate insurance
Asia lags the world in natural catastrophe protection. Part of the problem could be counting extreme weather losses only after they happen, industry insiders tell the Eco-Business podcast.
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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas assistant governor tells the Eco-Business Podcast about the regulator’s maiden sustainability report that features an empirical study of climate impacts on banks as well as the nation’s first taxonomy.
EB podcast gender energy
In a region where large hydro projects and expanding biofuel plantations coincide with an upcoming coal phaseout, a laissez-faire approach could worsen existing inequalities and mar the success of a clean energy buildout.
An Eco-Business debate in 2019
EB Studio Covid-19 didn't kill events, but it did change them. Teymoor Nabili and Veemal Gungadin tell the Eco-Business Podcast how a pandemic transformed the way sustainability events are conceived and organised.
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