| Getting up early in the morning, the first thing | | | | it will not be wrong to say that the service |
| Scott does is to get hold of the newspaper. | | | | industry has triggered growth in developing |
| Squatting on a davenport, he checks out for the | | | | countries like India. |
| latest job offers. He then checks his inbox for | | | | ‘Shifting from the agriculture sector’ has |
| any interview calls he might have received. His | | | | been another trend that has come to fore in the |
| friend Darren just got an offer from a start-up | | | | international employment scene. While agriculture |
| financial enterprise and Scott is confident of | | | | sector, continues to employ the highest number |
| receiving one. Want to know the reason for | | | | of people in the world- ILO estimates put the |
| Scot’s newfound confidence? Then you can | | | | figure at 40.1% in 2005-, the number is gradually |
| read this article on ‘International Employment | | | | decreasing. In 1995, 44.4% of the workforce in |
| Trends | | | | the world was working in the agriculture sector. |
| Most of the countries are now witnessing a | | | | The percentage reduced to 40.1% in 2005. The |
| growth in their economy. Till two years back, the | | | | largest decline has been noticed in the South East |
| growth bandwagon was lead by China, India Brazil | | | | Asia and the Pacific. This region has seen a |
| among others. The US economy was not in a | | | | whopping 12% reduction in the number of people |
| robust shape and even Japan was perhaps | | | | working in the agricultural sector. The number |
| witnessing what many terms as ‘the longest | | | | stood at 55.3% in 1995. In the year 2005, the |
| economic stagnation’. However things took a | | | | total workforce employed in the agriculture sector |
| turn for the better and in the last year or so, the | | | | stands at 43.3%. |
| economies across the world have started | | | | Another international trend has been the rise in |
| registering a positive growth rate. | | | | the wages in sectors requiring highly skilled |
| Economic growth rate is a crucial factor in | | | | professionals. This growth has out done the rise |
| determining the generation of jobs. Hence it can | | | | witnessed by those in low-skilled occupations. This |
| be safely assumed that the job market is | | | | has significantly widened the wage gap between |
| witnessing a sort of revival. According to a report | | | | highly skilled professionals and those with low |
| published by the International Labor Organization | | | | –skills. |
| (ILO), the unemployment rate showed a decline in | | | | The past few years has also witnessed Mother |
| the last two years. It stood at 6.3% at the | | | | Nature’s fury at its worst. The Asian tsunami, |
| beginning of 2006. The decline has been due to | | | | Hurricane Katrina, Pakistan earthquake has |
| new jobs created in major economies like US. For | | | | created a negative impact on the job market. |
| e.g. a report from CNN stated that 1,28,000 | | | | The Asian tsunami badly affected popular tourist |
| people were added to the workforce in August | | | | destination like Bali and Mauritius. It snatched away |
| 2006. The story has seen a repetition across the | | | | the livelihood of fishermen living along sea costs of |
| world. | | | | India and Sri Lanka. An ILO estimates that nearly |
| Another significant change in the employment | | | | one million jobs were lost in Indonesia and Sri |
| trend has been the rise of the service sector. | | | | Lanka due to the Asian Tsunami. |
| The service sector has put the economic growth | | | | The various conflicts witnessed across the globe |
| rate in the driver’s seat. As per a report that | | | | have also negatively impacted the job market. |
| appeared in the Associated Press, service sector | | | | The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the conflicts in |
| makes up for two-third of the US economy. Even | | | | Sudan and Middle East has led to thousands of |
| in a developing country like India, the service | | | | jobs being lost. |
| sector has been the star performer. This is | | | | The surging oil price has also affected the |
| perhaps also a reason as to why the number of | | | | employment market. The airlines industry has |
| employees engaged in the service sector has | | | | borne a major brunt of this regular hike in oil |
| shown a steady increase in the past decade. For | | | | prices. The upsurge in oil prices has lead to the |
| e.g. as per ILO, the number of people employed in | | | | bankruptcy of many airlines. This has led to many |
| the service sector in the world has increased | | | | jobs being lost .The upsurge has also increased |
| from 34.5% in 1995 to 38.9% in 2005. This is | | | | the operating cost of the airlines and has eaten |
| against the employment level in the industry | | | | into their profits. This has led to many airlines |
| sector which has remained stagnant at 21% | | | | announcing major job cuts. |
| between the period from 1995-2005.The | | | | With the era of Multi Fiber Agreement coming to |
| interesting fact to be noted is that females | | | | an end, the textile industry has been a witness to |
| constitute 45% of the workforce in the service | | | | major job reshuffle. The matter had already been |
| sector, which is higher than other sectors such as | | | | made worse due to mechanization which saw the |
| industry and agriculture. | | | | employment level registering a steady decline |
| ‘Outsourcing’ is the latest trend in the | | | | form 14.5 million workers in 1990 to 13 million in |
| employment sector. Outsourcing has created jobs | | | | the year 2000. The end of MFA meant that fabric |
| in developing countries like India. Call centers and | | | | importers in the West could now import from a |
| BPOs are a direct outcome of outsourcing. These | | | | country like China rather than from say, |
| ‘shining sectors’ have created jobs for | | | | Bangladesh or Vietnam. This has affected the |
| the educated and English speaking class of the | | | | workers employed in these countries. Since |
| country. The workforce in this sector commands | | | | women comprise a large portion of workers in |
| high salaries. This has led to an increase in the | | | | textile factories, they are the worst affected. |
| disposable income, which in turn has led to a rise | | | | Overall, the international employment trends have |
| in domestic consumption. This increased | | | | painted a positive picture. However continuous |
| consumption has led to more production of goods | | | | conflicts and surging oil prices threaten to upset |
| that in turn has created more employment. Hence | | | | the apple cart. |