The World’s Unemployed Could Increase to 240 million
The global economic crisis could lead to growth this year in the number of unemployed worldwide to a record of nearly 240 million people, equivalent to an unemployment rate of 7.4%, estimated the International Labor Office.
“The labor market has worsened from the beginning of crisis. Our current projections show that (the unemployed – number) will increase by 39-59 million persons in 2009 (compared to 2007 – No), “General Director of Office, Juan Somavia, in a press conference. In these circumstances, the total number of unemployed worldwide could reach at the end of the year to 210-239 million, a record, he said.
In previous estimates, from March, the institution indicated that the number of unemployed will rise by 52 million over the next two years, a total of 230 million. These dates are based on forecasts of growth of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), indicating a decrease in this year of the world economy of 1.3%.
The office warns that young people will be among the main victims of the crisis on the labor market, for their category the unemployment rate will climb to 14-15% in 2009 from 12% last year. Meanwhile, some 200 million workers risk coming among those that live in a came less than two dollars a day.