According to Objective 8 of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) of the United Nations, it is essential to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Roughly half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about US$2 a day. This slow and uneven progress requires us to rethink and retool our economic and social policies aimed at eradicating poverty.

Even though the average annual growth rate of real GDP per capita worldwide is increasing year on year, there are still many countries in the developing world that are decelerating in their growth rates.  As labor productivity decreases and unemployment rates rise, standards of living begin to decline due to lower wages. The creation of quality employment remains a challenge.

Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs that stimulate the economy while not harming the environment. Training in technical and professional skills for young people and adults becomes necessary to facilitate acces to work and entrepreneurship, and decent working conditions. Many educating cities work to achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Below you will find some projects related to the promotion of employment, available at the IAEC Bank of Experiences:

Youth Strategy – BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

Urban regeneration Plan of the Historic Centre – GUNSAN, Republic of Korea

The Obrador: cultural entrepreneurial factory – ROSARIO, Argentina

RIVASCOOP, Programme of support for the social and solidarity-based economy – RIVAS VACIAMADRID, Spain

Zanardi Houses Project – BOLOGNA, Italy

Morelian Women’s Bazaars  – MORELIA, Mexico

“Lampposts” Community Centres – PAYSANDÚ, Uruguay

Gamcheon Cultural Village – Urban redevelopment of a degraded neighborhood through art and culture – SAHA-GU, Republic of Korea

Urban Recylers Program – RÍO CUARTO, Argentina

The House of Urban Cultures – DAKAR, Senegal

University of the Worker Entrepreneur – Citizen Training – SOROCABA, Brazil

Cümelén: An employment integration workshop for the disabled – MALARGÜE, Argentina

Check out our Databank for more experiences!