The ILO estimates that between 25 and 30 per cent of the world's growing labour force is unemployed or under-employed. This is a major cause of poverty. In addition, 500 million women and men work for less than US$ 1 per day, many of them in micro-enterprises in the informal economy.

In its efforts to promote decent work throughout the world, the ILO emphasizes the importance of policies to create more and better jobs. Its Global Employment Agenda sets out a vision of how to create growth and jobs and of how labour market policies could be used to support the creation of more and better jobs.

Training programmes devote considerable attention to all aspects of promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment for women and men around the world.

In sharing knowledge about how to increase the quantity and quality of jobs, we are keen to contribute to measures that enhance both efficiency and equity in labour markets.

Our training courses and learning events target people who are responsible for the design and implementation of labour market and employment policies. They aim to equip participants with the requisite tools to undertake sound empirical analysis and to support evidence-based policies.

Training subjects include:

• applied labour economics for development
• improving labour market institutions
• supporting workers through active labour market programmes
• launching employment initiatives at the local level
• promoting employment-intensive investment

• policies and programmes for youth employment

• involving workers' organizations and employers' organizations in employment policy formulation and implementation.

Most such training focuses on pertinent concepts, key issues, sound methods and good practice.