Workers of the world

By R.A., D.H. & R.L.W.

An interactive guide to global labour markets

THE last few decades have been a trying time for many of the world’s workers. The squeeze has come from multiple directions. Most economies have polarised as firms have found it easier to replace workers with robots or computers. In Britain, for instance, the share of employment in middle-skilled occupations fell from 40% in 1992 to 25% in 2011, while the share of people in high-skilled or low-skilled work rose. This automation has been good for owners of capital. Across many countries labour’s share of national income has been sinking; it is down to 55% in America, from 59% a generation ago. The decline would have been larger but for rising incomes among the richest workers. The top 10% of American earners took home just a third of labour income in 1980 but nearly half in 2012. Most people are working less; both rates of participation in the labour force and hours worked have been tumbling. Yet growth in median incomes has been glacial, and many workers would no doubt prefer to put in more time at the office, if only firms were interested.

Read more in our special report.