The ILO and the G20
The G20 is a main forum for international economic cooperation.
It is made up of 19 countries and two regional bodies: the European Union and the African Union. The members of the G20 represent around 85% of the world's GDP, more than 75% of world trade and around two-thirds of the world's population. The G20 plays an important role in defining and strengthening global governance on major international economic issues.
ILO's role at the G20
The ILO provides technical inputs and support to the G20 on policies that advance social justice and promote decent work. The ILO conducts analysis and provides policy recommendations on labour, economic and social issues to embed ILO policies in multilateral processes. It acts as a knowledge partner to several working groups.
In a world that is constantly grappling with new challenges and crises, it is becoming clearer every day that we need to accelerate our efforts towards making social justice a reality for all. This requires a set of well-coordinated social policies, including social protection and other policies to ensure social inclusion.
ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo
Facts and Figures
- Labour force participation in G20 countries increased to approximately 2.31 billion in 2023.
- The gender gap in the labour force participation rate stands at 23.7 percentage points in 2023.
- The unemployment rate dropped to 5.0 per cent (ca. 114 million unemployed) in 2023, below the pre-pandemic level of 5.7 per cent in 2019.
- Close to 1.159 billion people are informally employed in G20 countries of which 48 per cent are women and 55 per cent are men.
- The labour force underutilization rate is 9.2 per cent (ca. 221 million).
- The share of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) is 26.5 per cent for women and 12.9 per cent for men.
Source: ILOSTAT, February 2024, more information: https://ilostat.ilo.org
ILO and the 2024 G20 Presidency
The theme for Brazil’s G20 Presidency – “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet” focuses on the following three priorities across the Sherpa and Finance Tracks:
- Social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty.
- Energy transitions and the promotion of sustainable development in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
- Reform of global governance institutions.
The specific priorities for each of the workstreams in the Sherpa and Finance tracks derive from these three overarching priorities. A notable innovation under the Brazilian G20 Presidency is the establishment of two temporary Task Forces that bring together the Finance and Sherpa Tracks:
- the Task Force Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty
- the Task Force Global Mobilization against Climate Change
News and articles
G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting
ILO calls on G20 to reduce inequalities, promote gender equality and encourage diversity in the world of work
Newly-launched global campaign tackles the impact of heat stress on workers worldwide
Publications
G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting, Fortaleza, Brazil
Women at Work in G20 countries: Progress and policy action in 2023
G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting, Fortaleza, Brazil
Youth at Work in G20 countries: Progress and policy action in 2023
Enhancing the social dimension in transition finance: towards a just transition
Key Resources
Report
Social protection and the way forward to eliminate poverty and ensure human dignity and adequate nutritious food for all
Portal
G20 Social Policy Portal: Social Protection and Inclusion
G20 Members
Contact us
Contact ddg@ilo.org for more information.