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Global pollster Gallup just released its annual study on global employment trends for 140 countries and noted a slight tick down in those employed full time for both an employer and those self-employed. Workers 15 years and older in 2012 who were employed full time for an employer represented 26 percent of world workers, down slightly from 27 percent in 2011. Full time self-employed workers dropped from 19 percent in 2011 to 18 percent in 2012. Those out of the work force made up another 38 percent in 2012, compared with 37 percent in 2011.
North America (interestingly classified as just the U.S. and Canada) led full time employment for an employer with 42 percent, followed by Europe – Other (non-European Union Europe) with 40 percent. The British Commonwealth countries were third with 38 percent. The European Union countries were in fourth place followed by Latin America, which jumped 3 percent over 2011 from 28 percent to 31 percent.
If you flip the numbers and look at just full time self-employed worker statistics, Southeast Asia leads the pack with 28 percent of workers employed in their own businesses, compared with just 5 percent in North America. East Asia is a close second with 27 percent of the self-employed population. Sub-Saharan Africa was third with 23 percent. Gallup said self-employment rises in areas where jobs are not plentiful, usually less developed or emerging countries.
The regions with the highest percentage of population over 15 who are not in the workforce are primarily developing areas. The highest rate of non-workers is found in the Middle East and North Africa, where 56 percent do not work, reflecting the absence of women from the workplace who choose not to work, according to Gallup.
Gallup’s 2012 numbers put global unemployment highest in the Middle East and North Africa, with a depression-like 19 percent. Sub-Saharan Africa had 15 percent unemployment and the Balkans claimed third with 14 percent. The European Union wasn’t far behind with an average unemployment rate of 12 percent.
The best unemployment figures were found in the Europe – Other region, which includes countries such as Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Unemployment in that region in 2012 was about 4 percent. Overall, Gallup said the average 8 percent global unemployment rate was unchanged from 2011.