Trends in Work and Employment in Rapidly Developing Countries

Abstract

Over the few decades we have seen significant changes in the global economy and, correspondingly, to the nature of work. The emergence of a number of middle-income countries (MICs), such as China and India, on to the global economic stage has drawn millions of workers into the global labour market. Yet the rapid economic growth of these MICs raises a number of questions about type and quality of employment that is being created in these countries and what this means for the health and well-being of those living and working there. The aim of this chapter is to explore the trends in work and employment in the rapidly developing MICs (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the Russian Federation). The data show we can see a number of common trends across the MICs. All have undergone some form of structural transformation which has seen employment in agriculture decline and employment in the service sector grow. However, this has not necessarily led to the growth of good quality jobs. Indeed, the data point to rising unemployment in some MICs and the persistence of a high rates of employment in the informal sector. Moreover, there are worrying signs that gender inequalities in labour market participation are widening in a number of MICs. There are concerns that these trends could lead to an increase in work-related disability and poor health across the developing countries.

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“…First, the proportion of people employed in agriculture declined quite strongly. Compared to the year 1991, the percentage in these countries was reduced from fifty-one percent to twenty-seven percent by 2017 [11]. At the same time, as a second feature, the industrial sector did not grow as expected from previous developments in HICs.…”

“…Overall, they showed a strong increase in gross domestic product over the past twenty-five years. Six countries stand out in this regard: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the Russian Federation [11]. Despite national variations, these countries underwent a process of structural transformation with three dominant features.…”

“…The main problem of this latter development consists in the fact that employment growth was largely limited to low-productivity service sectors, such as retail trade or low-skilled information and communication jobs. These jobs offer poor and insecure working conditions and low pay [11].…”

“…In consequence, the level of precarious work in MICs is still high, with more than forty percent of workers considered as being in vulnerable or informal employment. However, while India and Indonesia have documented the highest proportions of precarious work, the trends in Russia, Mexico, and Brazil are more favourable, and China has witnessed the sharpest decrease in vulnerable employment over time [11]. These difficulties and disadvantages among working people in MICs were aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.…”