Jobs and unemployment in emerging markets and developing countries two focal points of IMF messaging in Davos

IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said on Thursday said that the IMF is releasing two staff papers based on recent research, ‘one of which will focus on the issue of jobs and unemployment, especially in emerging markets and developing countries, and especially focused on the issue of youth unemployment actually. So that’s going to be launched — that staff paper is going to be launched on January 23’.

He said the IMF’s Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, will be in Davos for the World Economic Forum meeting on Monday.

Gerry also said the IMF will also be focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals and the costs, the fiscal financial costs of the Sustainable Development Goals where the IMF staff have conducted some recent research.

The ILO’s flagship report shows that while the global unemployment rate is stabilizing, unemployment and decent work deficits will stay at persistently high levels in many parts of the world.

According to the World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2018 , the global unemployment rate has been stabilizing after a rise in 2016. It is expected to have reached 5.6 per cent in 2017, with the total number of unemployed exceeding 192 million persons.

Hopefully, representatives of African countries will raise the issues of market inequalities and how they affect local job creation and economic sustainability.