World Bank Urges Overhaul of Employment Programs

The World Bank has called on governments to revamp public works programmes, warning that short-term jobs are no longer sufficient to tackle unemployment and skills gaps. In its report, Innovations in Public Works: Rethinking Public Works for Jobs and Skills in a Changing World, the institution noted that traditional schemes, which typically offer temporary, low-skilled infrastructure work, fail to deliver lasting economic benefits or pathways into stable employment. Public works programmes are widely used in low- and middle-income countries as social protection tools, providing income to vulnerable populations. The World Bank recommends shifting these initiatives toward roles that equip participants with skills relevant to evolving labour markets shaped by digital technology and climate challenges. “A changing world calls for rethinking how public works can better support jobs and skills,” the report said, highlighting that demographic pressures, technological change, and climate risks are reshaping labour markets. Public works should not only provide short-term relief but also help participants develop skills aligned with growing sectors of the economy. The report identifies three emerging areas for public works programmes: care services, digital work, and green jobs. Care-focused public works involve participants providing services such as childcare, elder care, and home-based support instead of building physical infrastructure. In Burkina Faso and Rwanda, childcare programmes linked to public works have enabled more women to enter paid employment while gaining caregiving skills. In South Africa, similar schemes support vulnerable groups, including the elderly and people living with HIV/AIDS, while generating paid care jobs. Digital public works involve creating digital public assets, such as maps, datasets, and digitised records. In Kenya, young people have used smartphones to map buildings and collect urban planning data, while in Mali and Tanzania, participants trace infrastructure using satellite imagery. In Sierra Leone, youths in flood-prone areas digitise flood risk data to support disaster response. These programmes provide practical digital skills and are particularly accessible to women and young people, as many tasks can be completed remotely. Green public works combine job creation with environmental protection and climate resilience. Examples include land restoration and water management in India, coastal protection in Fiji, and flood-control projects in Malawi. These initiatives help communities adapt to climate change, provide steady income, and develop skills related to agriculture, environmental management, and conservation. The World Bank emphasizes that these innovative approaches make public works more adaptive, inclusive, and cost-effective. By focusing on skills development and long-term employability, such programmes can benefit women, youth, and residents of fragile or conflict-affected areas, while advancing policy goals such as climate resilience, digital transformation, and human capital development. The report was authored by Christian Bodewig, Practice Manager for Social Protection and Labour Global Engagement at the World Bank; Michael Weber, Senior Economist at the Human Capital Project; Marko Bucik, a social protection and labour consultant; and Aditi Lal, a consultant with the Human Capital Project. According to the World Bank, countries that invest in forward-looking public works programmes can maximise public spending, protect vulnerable populations in the short term, and prepare workers for the jobs of the future.