Labor Intermediation Services in Developing Economies : Adapting Employment Services for a Global Age

Employment the only true exit out of poverty for the poor is finally in the spotlight as a key policy for 21rst century development (see WDR 2013, Fields, 2012). Much of what is written about employment policy and jobs, however, is descriptive and borrows heavily from the developed world. This proposed book is the first to focus on the key active labor market policy of employment services matching workers to jobs from the perspective of developing country economies. It proposes the evolution of employment services into labor intermediation services in a comprehensive practical framework based on multi-country experience. The book argues that significant improvements can be made in labor market transparency and access to employment by developing rudimentary employment services in three stages into labor intermediation services. It advocates a third potential phase to better connect these services to social and economic policy. The book will be unique in its use of concrete examples and policy lessons from a wide range of countries to demonstrate how these services have been implemented and adapted even in very poor countries and how such services can connect to the broader jobs agenda for poverty reduction.