Unemployment in the region is also persistently high and disproportionately affects women and young people. Moreover, the coming demographic transition will put enormous pressure on the labour markets of the region. In this context, it is essential to make employment more central to policy-making.

Recognizing the need for better employment policies in the Middle East and North Africa, in October 2010 the ITC-ILO’s ESD Programme and the World Bank jointly held a one-week labour-market course in Turin for policy-makers, social partners, and researchers from the Middle East and North Africa.

The main objective was a better understanding of the effect of policies and institutions, and their interaction, on labour-market performance and social inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa.

The course sought to support the adoption of more effective and inclusive labour market and employment policies through a careful consideration of how those may apply to rapidly changing labour markets in the region. It focused on informality and low job quality, given their importance there.

Region: the Middle East and North Africa

Year: 2010 (October)