Sustainable Development Goals UNDP SDG Booklet, 7x5inches for DG_final | Page 29

GOAL 8: decent work and economic growth Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (Credit: Project Recovery: Recovery & Resilience in Selected Typhoon Yolanda- affected communities in the Visayas / UNDP) An important part of economic growth is that people have jobs that pay enough to support themselves and their families. The good news is that the middle class is growing worldwide—almost tripling in size in developing countries in the last 25 years, to more than a third of the population. But in 2015, we also have widening inequal- ities, and job growth is not keeping pace with the growing labour force—over 200 million people don’t have jobs. That’s the equivalent of the entire population of Brazil. Things don’t have to be that way. We can promote policies that encourage entrepreneurship and job cre- ation. We can eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. And in the end we can achieve the goal of decent work for all women and men by 2030. 24