• https://publications.iadb.org/es/indice-de-mejores-trabajos-indice-de-condiciones-laborales-de-america-latina

Inter-American Development Bank (2020). 2020 Better Jobs Index Database: Latin America. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/prxb-w968

1. Spanish

What information does this dataset include?

The 2020 Better Jobs Index dataset includes data disaggregated by country, gender, and education level.
Key variables include:

• Percentage of employed adults.
• Percentage of formal workers.
• Total Better Jobs Index score.
• Sub-indices for job quantity and job quality.

How is the Better Jobs Index calculated?

The index combines two main dimensions:

1. Job quantity: measures the proportion of the adult population that is employed.
2. Job quality: measures the proportion of workers with formal jobs that provide access to social security and benefits.

Each dimension is normalized and averaged to yield the total index score, which ranges from 0 to 100.

Which countries are covered in the 2020 index?

The Better Jobs Index 2020 provides comparable data for most Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries,
allowing users to analyze differences in job quality across economies and subregions.

Why is it essential to measure job quality?

Measuring job quality helps policymakers understand not only how many people are working, but also under what conditions.
The index identifies gaps in formalization, productivity, and equity, thereby supporting the design of public policies to promote higher-quality employment.

How can this dataset be used?

Researchers, economists, and policymakers can use the Better Jobs Index to:

• Compare countries’ labor market performance.
• Analyze gender and education gaps in employment quality.
• Evaluate the impact of formalization policies.
• Study the link between economic growth and decent work creation.

What are the main findings of the 2020 index?

In 2020, the region experienced a decline in both job quantity and quality,
mainly due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Women and workers with lower levels of education were the most affected groups.

What are the limitations of the Better Jobs Index?

The index relies on the availability and quality of national labor survey data.
Main limitations include:

• Incomplete data series for some countries.
• Different national definitions of formal and informal employment.
• Limited temporal coverage, as updates are not always annual.

Who developed the Better Jobs Index?

The Better Jobs Index was developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
through its Labor Markets Division to measure and promote better-quality employment in Latin America and the Caribbean.

What is the current workforce engagement level in Latin America?
The Better Jobs Index tracks labor force participation rates across Latin American countries, providing a comparative view of the extent to which the working-age population is engaged in the labor force.

How many people are employed or actively seeking jobs in Latin American nations?
The index includes data on labor force participation and employment rates, which together reflect the share of the working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking work.

Does it have recent figures on Latin America's labor market activity rates?
Yes. The index provides country-level statistics on labor market activity, updated periodically to reflect recent trends in participation and employment.

What are the participation trends in the labor force across Latin American countries?
The index enables trend analysis by comparing participation rates over time and across countries, highlighting shifts in workforce engagement.

What is the overview of the working-age population's involvement in the economy of Latin America?
The index evaluates both the quantity (participation and employment rates) and quality (formality and wage sufficiency) of labor market involvement.

What influences does informal sector employment have on official labor statistics in Latin America?
One of the index’s core quality indicators is formality, which measures the share of workers registered in social security systems, helping to assess the size and impact of informal employment.

Why have female labor force participation rates stalled in some Latin American countries?
The index disaggregates participation rates by gender, revealing persistent gaps and stagnation in female workforce engagement in several countries.

What underlying socio-economic factors contribute to low youth employment in Latin America?
Youth employment is a key focus of the index, which highlights challenges such as informality, low wage sufficiency, and skill mismatches affecting young workers.

What is the role of education and skill mismatch in Latin American employment challenges?
While not directly measured, the index’s wage sufficiency and formality indicators indirectly reflect skill mismatch and education-related barriers to quality employment.

What structural barriers prevent certain population groups from participating in the Latin American labor market?
The index points to gender and age disparities, but does not provide detailed breakdowns for indigenous, Afro-descendant, or disabled populations.

What are the key policy levers for governments to increase labor force participation in Latin America?
The index is designed to inform policy by identifying gaps in employment quantity and quality, and to guide interventions to improve formality, wage levels, and inclusive participation.

For an investor, what are the implications of Latin America's labor force trends on economic growth?
The index helps investors assess the health of the labor market and the potential for human capital, which are crucial for evaluating long-term growth prospects and workforce stability.

As a student researching development, what are the primary academic debates surrounding Latin American LFPR?
The index contributes to debates on informality, gender gaps, youth employment, and wage sufficiency—core themes in labor economics and development studies.

How does the 'gig economy' phenomenon uniquely impact labor force participation in Latin America?
While not explicitly addressed, the index’s formality indicator can help infer the rise of gig work and its implications for social protection and wage stability.

What are the social welfare consequences of low labor force participation rates in specific Latin American communities?
Low participation and informal employment correlate with limited access to social protection and lower income security, as reflected in the index’s wage and formality metrics.