Jobs for Growth and Growth for Jobs

The World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Employment identifies a global jobs crisis characterized by high youth unemployment and a symbiotic failure where lack of growth prevents job creation, and lack of jobs depresses the consumption needed for growth. The report proposes a policy agenda for the G20 and OECD focusing on active labour-market programmes, apprenticeship expansion, and strategic infrastructure investment. It specifically advocates for a transition to a low-carbon economy by shifting taxes from employment to environmental 'bads' and investing in green growth to ensure long-term sustainability and a just transition for workers.

• The global economy is experiencing a symbiotic crisis where growth is required to generate jobs, but jobs are simultaneously necessary to drive the consumption and investment that fuel growth.
• Youth unemployment is a critical global issue, with over 200 million people jobless worldwide and 40% of those being under the age of 24; in the EU, more than 20% of youth in Italy and Greece are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs).
• Long-term youth unemployment creates a 'scarring effect' that leads to lower future income growth and a higher risk of subsequent joblessness.
• The report recommends that governments shift the tax burden from employment to environmental 'bads' to make job creation more attractive while maintaining revenue for public services.
• To support the transition to a low-carbon economy, the report advocates for 'green growth' through targeted public investment in retrofitting buildings, green construction, and recycling.
• The report suggests that a 'just transition' is necessary as the shift to a lower-carbon world will create winners and losers, requiring skills policies to be coordinated with industrial and energy policy.
• The German 'kurzarbeit' (short-time working) scheme is highlighted as an effective model for job preservation, where the state compensates workers for lost earnings during demand fluctuations to avoid lay-offs.
• High levels of income inequality are identified as a risk to economic efficiency and sustainability, potentially contributing to the pre-crisis reliance on household borrowing.
• The report calls for a 'Youth Jobs Pact' where businesses commit to hiring a specific number of young people from unemployment registers and providing high-quality training.
• Strategic infrastructure investment in areas such as renewable energy, high-speed rail, and broadband is recommended to improve long-term productive potential.

APA

World Economic Forum (2013). Jobs for Growth and Growth for Jobs. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GAC_JobsGrowthGrowthJobs_2013.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Jobs for Growth and Growth for Jobs. 2013. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GAC_JobsGrowthGrowthJobs_2013.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Jobs for Growth and Growth for Jobs |date=2013 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GAC_JobsGrowthGrowthJobs_2013.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2013jobs, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Jobs for Growth and Growth for Jobs}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2013}, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GAC_JobsGrowthGrowthJobs_2013.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }