Full employment and decent work: Policy gaps and strategic pathways

This article explores the evolving commitment to full employment and decent work as a cornerstone of social development efforts. Anchored in key international frameworks—namely the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—it first offers a contextual overview of how this agenda has developed over time. Building on existing research and scholarship, the article assesses progress to date, while critically examining the enduring challenges and systemic gaps that hinder broader implementation. It considers how intersecting crises—including technological disruption, demographic shifts, large-scale migration and the rise of informal and precarious labour—have complicated efforts to ensure equitable and sustainable employment. Particular attention is given to structural issues such as high youth unemployment, gender disparities and the expansion of informal work. Moreover, the article highlights institutional weaknesses—such as limited enforcement capacity and insufficient cross-border cooperation—as key barriers to progress. These limitations underscore the need for a renewed, coordinated policy approach and a stronger global governance framework. In closing, the article calls for a reimagining of employment and decent work not only as economic imperatives but as essential foundations for inclusive and just social development.