Address Labor Market Challenges in Developing Economies: Global Experts and Scholars Convene at Jobs and Development Conference 2024 at Cairo
31 October 2024 – HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies, co-organized with the World Bank, International Labour Organization (ILO), UNU-WIDER, Institute for Structural Research (IBS, Poland), and the Development Policy Research Unit at the University of Cape Town (DPRU, South Africa), the biannual Jobs and Development Conference 2024 at The American University in Cairo (AUC) recently at Cairo, Egypt from 8 to 9 October 2024. The conference gathered over 120 scholars and experts to discuss critical labor challenges in developing economies.
The two-day conference featured over 50 academic presentations focusing on crucial topics such as job creation, skills development, and inclusive economic policies. Researchers shared groundbreaking insights that are particularly relevant to the MENA region, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, contributing to a deeper understanding of labor challenges in emerging markets.
Professor Kunal Sen, Director of UNU-WIDER, emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of informal workers to ensure decent work and inclusive economic growth in his welcome words. "To effectively address labor challenges in today's global context, we cannot rely solely on the labor policies of developed economies. There remains a significant knowledge gap regarding earnings and labor dynamics in developing countries, and this is an issue we must confront."
“This event has become one of the most important platforms for researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners to come together and discuss critical issues related to jobs and inclusive economic growth. This conference also shaped discussions that have led to meaningful insights and contributions to the global understanding of labor markets and economic development.” Stated Ahmed El Sayed, the Executive Director of J-PAL MENA at the American University in Cairo.
The conference strives to expand the frontiers of global knowledge around jobs, improve understanding of the interplay between development and quantity and quality of work, and advance the discussion on the most effective policies to improve job outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
The conference builds upon the Employment and Development conferences organized by the World Bank and IZA between 2006-2015, and the Jobs and Development conference organized by the NJD and the World Bank in 2016. The UNU-WIDER has also been involved as a partner since 2019. The ILO joined in 2023, ahead of preparing for the 2024 edition of the conference. HKUST IEMS is a founding member of the conference organizers.
The event showcased a collective commitment to addressing labor market dynamics and economic policy, bringing together leading organizations, scholars and experts in the field.
Hosted by J-PAL MENA at AUC, the event underscored the global commitment to addressing labor challenges through evidence-based research and policy recommendations. Conference recordings and materials are now available for public access, further extending the reach and impact of these important discussions.
The IEMS is proud to have been involved in this significant gathering and looks forward to continuing our efforts to support impactful research and policy development in emerging markets.
For more information and access to conference materials, please click here.
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