Many people are concerned about the effects of open trade on employment where they live. In fact, OECD analysis shows that liberalised trade is an engine for job creation in all countries, especially as the world moves from economic crisis to recovery.

However, trade liberalisation must be accompanied by appropriate employment and social policies, so that we all reap the benefits of open markets.

Out now
Policy Priorities for International Trade and Jobs

How does trade interact with employment? The International Collaborative Initiative on Trade and Employment (ICITE)* brings together 10 international organisations to undertake research, promote discussion and develop policy-relevant conclusions.

This book features highlights from the first two years of work, as selected by ICITE partners, including regional, country and thematic studies.

Read and download the book for free

 Facts about trade and jobs

• Over the 1970-2000 period, manufacturing workers in open economies benefitted from pay rates that were between 3 and 9 times greater than those in closed economies, depending on the region.
  
  
• In Chile, workers in the most open sectors earned on average 25% more in 2008 than those in low-openness sectors.
  
  
• Fears of the impact of offshoring may be exaggerated. Studies for the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and Italy demonstrate that off-shoring of intermediate goods has either no impact or, if any, a positive effect on both employment and wages.

Download the underlying data in Excel

 Video

Jagdish Bhagwati on trade and jobs

Trade is not 'taking' jobs out of developed countries, says Professor Jagdish Bhagwati of Columbia University in this OECD interview. Firms from developing countries are now creating employment in developed economies, he says.

Professor Bhagwati also warns that protectionism would be harmful to world trade and economic recovery, and underlines the importance of World Trade Organization rules in the global trading system.

 Open markets - good for jobs (1 min 28 sec)

 More OECD videos on trade

 More on trade and jobs

Launched and co-ordinated by the OECD, ICITE* is a joint undertaking of 10 international organisations to seek a better understanding of how trade interacts with employment.

Trade and Employment (chapter from International Trade: Free, Fair and Open?)

Do imports undermine domestic jobs? Why do companies outsource?  Does competition from emerging economies reduce job numbers and lower wages in OECD countries? This basic guide to international trade tackles these questions.

 Read the full book online
 See all OECD publications on trade

The Impact of Trade Liberalisation on Jobs and Growth

Further trade liberalisation by G20 countries would boost growth, employment and real wages for all countries, according to this report. Using a computable general equilibrium model of the world economy, it takes a fresh approach to estimating the economic effects of trade liberalisation.

The report also examines the effect of reducing barriers to foreign direct investment (FDI) in services.

(Published as OECD Trade Policy Working Paper no. 107)

Korea, host of the G20 summit in 2010, is an example of how market openness brings jobs and economic success to a country, explains the OECD Insights blog. Add your comment!

Open markets, complemented by properly designed employment and social policies, are essential to job creation, says this joint report by the OECD, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Trade and Jobs - 2011 Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level

Open international trade is a catalyst for creating more and better jobs, agreed trade ministers at an OECD meeting in May 2011. Read the main points of this meeting.

Does trade kill jobs or create them?

Facts drawn from OECD data and analysis demonstrate that open trade contributes to net job creation and greater economic growth.

 Read more articles in this series

 Links