Upgrading labour market information in developing countries: Problems, progress and prospects

In 1977 the ILO initiated a long-term programme of technical co-operation to help developing countries improve their labour market information (LMI). A decade or so later, considerable progress had been made but much remained to be done, especially given the impact of the profound economic changes on the labour market in most developing countries. This concise, readable study reviews progress in LMI over the past few years, focuses on the limitations of different methods and approaches for generating LMI (especially in relation to the urban informal sector and the impact of structural adjustment on employment), and points to key issues and priorities for the future. It should be a source of reference and inspiration to planners and policy-makers, as well as to employers' and workers' organizations, in their attempts to formulate effective ways of obtaining accurate LMI that best serves the needs of its users.