The region’s strong economic performance in 2007 had a positive impact on its labour markets. Employment in ASEAN countries increased from 260.6 million in 2006 to 268.5 million in 2007, an increase of 3%, or 7.0 million additional jobs. Employment growth was particularly strong in Singapore (6.6%) and Indonesia (4.7%).
In 2007, some 72% of the region’s job growth took place in industry and services. This played a role in lifting the regional productivity level by 3% because labour productivity is higher in both industry and services than in agriculture. And yet, agriculture still accounts for 44.5% of ASEAN’s total employment, albeit with considerable variation across countries, ranging from less than 1% in Singapore, to over 80% in the Lao’s People Democratic Republic.
About 64% of the region’s employment growth in 2007 was in the form of increased wage employment, which indicates a possible expansion in formal employment opportunities. Despite this positive trend, the number of vulnerable workers, measured by own-account workers and unpaid family members – many of whom work in the informal economy – remains massive. An estimated 161 million workers, or about 60% of the ASEAN workforce in 2007, were characterised as vulnerable.
The regional average also masked significant variation by country. For example, the share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment ranged from over 70% in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam to around 50% in Thailand and below 10% in Singapore.
Unemployment shrank by about 555 000, or 3.2%, easing to 16.5 million in 2007. The region’s unemployment rate declined from 6.1% in 2006 to 5.8% in 2007. Much of the improvement comes from positive developments in Indonesia and the Philippines – two populous countries with high unemployment rates in recent years. Unemployment in Indonesia dropped sharply from 10.3% in 2006 to 9.1% in 2007. In the Philippines it declined from 7.3% to 6.3%.
An estimated 1.5 million ASEAN workers leave their home countries each year to work abroad, including within the ASEAN region. Intra-ASEAN migration has helped address the labour shortage in the region’s receiving countries, contributing to both increasing productivity and economic growth. For sending countries, remittances from their migrant workers can spur investment in economic and local development.
The highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in Southeast Asian nations is found in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam , Thailand above USD 2 000 and Viet Nam, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar are below USD 1000 (see Table 2).
The region’s strong economic performance in 2007 had a positive impact on its labour markets. Employment in ASEAN countries increased from 260.6 million in 2006 to 268.5 million in 2007, an increase of 3%, or 7.0 million additional jobs. Employment growth was particularly strong in Singapore (6.6%) and Indonesia (4.7%).
In 2007, some 72% of the region’s job growth took place in industry and services. This played a role in lifting the regional productivity level by 3% because labour productivity is higher in both industry and services than in agriculture. And yet, agriculture still accounts for 44.5% of ASEAN’s total employment, albeit with considerable variation across countries, ranging from less than 1% in Singapore, to over 80% in the Lao’s People Democratic Republic.
About 64% of the region’s employment growth in 2007 was in the form of increased wage employment, which indicates a possible expansion in formal employment opportunities. Despite this positive trend, the number of vulnerable workers, measured by own-account workers and unpaid family members – many of whom work in the informal economy – remains massive. An estimated 161 million workers, or about 60% of the ASEAN workforce in 2007, were characterised as vulnerable.
The regional average also masked significant variation by country. For example, the share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment ranged from over 70% in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam to around 50% in Thailand and below 10% in Singapore.
Unemployment shrank by about 555 000, or 3.2%, easing to 16.5 million in 2007. The region’s unemployment rate declined from 6.1% in 2006 to 5.8% in 2007. Much of the improvement comes from positive developments in Indonesia and the Philippines – two populous countries with high unemployment rates in recent years. Unemployment in Indonesia dropped sharply from 10.3% in 2006 to 9.1% in 2007. In the Philippines it declined from 7.3% to 6.3%.
An estimated 1.5 million ASEAN workers leave their home countries each year to work abroad, including within the ASEAN region. Intra-ASEAN migration has helped address the labour shortage in the region’s receiving countries, contributing to both increasing productivity and economic growth. For sending countries, remittances from their migrant workers can spur investment in economic and local development.
The highest Gross Domestic Product per capita in Southeast Asian nations is found in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam , Thailand above USD 2 000 and Viet Nam, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar are below USD 1000 (see Table 2).
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