Time to move to Sustainable Jobs: A Study on the State of Employment

This study, commissioned by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and carried out by Samuel Hall Consulting, aims to provide an overview of the labour market situation and the impact of the existing capacity building and employment creation efforts. The research team has gathered both quantitative data and qualitative information on labour and employment markets to complement the existing literature and fill some of its gaps. Additional key informant interviews were also conducted between November 2011 and January 2012 with stakeholders and relevant experts on the topic of political and socio-economic development at both national and provincial levels.

This study calls for a longer-term approach to development in Afghanistan, in which employment and decent work take a central role. While this is a major challenge given the uncertainties facing the country, a balance must be found between the urgency of stabilisation and creating more sustainable jobs that lift people out of poverty.