Sustaining Employment Growth: The Role of Manufacturing and Structural Change | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Manufacturing, with 470 million jobs in 2009, or one in six jobs globally still matters for employment generation. In 2013, there are likely more than half a billion jobs in manufacturing. Manufacturing employment is rising in developing countries and falling in developed countries, but the declines in developing countries are mitigated by the growth of manufacturing related services.

Least developed countries have immense potential for industrialization in food and beverages (agroindustry), and textiles and garments, with good prospects for sustained employment generation and higher productivity. Researchers in ODI's International Economic Development Group produced a background paper for the latest UNIDO Industrial Development Report. To launch the report in the UK, the lead author Dr Ludovico Alcorta will speak at ODI, along with DFID-ESRC Growth Research Programme (DEGRP) and ODI experts, on 27th February. The event will explore the critical role of the manufacturing sector in sustaining economic growth and transformation.

The full report is available here.