SDG 8

Icon for Decent work and economic growth

Decent work and economic growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Targets

Indicators

Target

8.1

Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries

Indicators

8.1.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita 

Target

8.2

Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

Indicators

8.2.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person 

Target

8.3

Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

Indicators

8.3.1

Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex 

Target

8.4

Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead

Indicators

8.4.1

Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP 

8.4.2

Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP 

Target

8.5

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

Indicators

8.5.1

Average hourly earnings of employees, by sex, age, occupation and persons with disabilities 

8.5.2

Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities 

Target

8.6

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

Indicators

8.6.1

Proportion of youth (aged 15–24 years) not in education, employment or training 

Target

8.7

Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms

Indicators

8.7.1

Proportion and number of children aged 5–17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age 

Target

8.8

Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment

Indicators

8.8.1

Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status 

8.8.2

Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status 

Target

8.9

By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

Indicators

8.9.1

Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate 

Target

8.10

Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all

Indicators

8.10.1

(a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults 

8.10.2

Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider 

Target

8.a

Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries

Indicators

8.a.1

Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements 

Target

8.b

By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization

Indicators

8.b.1

Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy 

  1. Ideas into action

    ClimateGlobal

    At this mid-point to the 2030 deadline, it’s clear that action must ramp up massively if the SDGs are to be realized and climate catastrophe averted. Initiatives such as the UN SDSN Global Climate Hub can help get governments back on track

  2. Trade’s role in climate action

    ClimateGlobal

    International trade can play a vital role in tackling climate change and achieving sustainable development. But it calls on governments to set aside national interests and open up access to environmental goods, services, and technologies for all countries

  3. A warmer world: are we ready?

    ClimateGlobal

    Even the most optimistic predictions show a significantly warmer planet by 2100. Rather than focusing on quick adaptive fixes, as many current plans do, countries must pursue climate-resilient development strategies that address the systemic nature of the climate crisis

  4. Stimulating innovation for net zero

    ClimateGlobal

    New technologies will play a vital role in achieving net zero. Getting them on stream and in widespread use fast enough to prevent climate catastrophe calls for bold and urgent action to unblock essential investment

  5. Towards a women-centered push for Agenda 2030

    GenderGlobal

    If progress on empowering women and girls was already far too slow, COVID and the war in Ukraine have made entrenched gender inequalities even worse. We must urgently ramp up our support for women and girls across all spheres of development, or the SDGs are doomed to fail

  6. In the balance

    ClimateGlobal

    Humanity’s failure to learn and adapt from repeated crises does not bode well for the bold, transformational changes that must happen urgently if we’re to achieve the world promised by the SDGs. There will be no second chance

  7. Multipronged action on the SDGs

    EnergyMiddle East and Northern Africa

    Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is undertaking a combination of pioneering projects in the UAE’s Hatta region, which exemplify its holistic approach to the SDGs

  8. Reversing the destructive forces of inequality

    Economic developmentGlobal

    COVID has exacerbated already deep inequalities between rich and poor.
    If left unchecked, the forces creating inequality will become even more
    destructive as the climate crisis starts to bite, threatening all of Agenda 2030. The world must urgently redouble efforts to reverse these trends