Eight out of ten of the world’s working poor live in rural areas where the lack of decent work opportunities is pervasive.

The world of work is undergoing major transformative changes driven by globalization, technological innovations, and demographic shifts, but also by rising inequalities and climate change. These and other megatrends have an impact on the rural economy, which accounts for more than two in five of the world’s workers, many of them living in poverty and informality and relying on agriculture, particularly small-scale agricultural activities, for their livelihoods. Unleashing the potential of decent and sustainable jobs in the rural economy and making rural areas more attractive to youth is essential to respond to these challenges and to promote sustainable development and inclusive economic growth.