If you’re looking for some incredibly detailed and comprehensive statistics on just about every issue related to the world (literally!) of work, you need look no further than the Information Resources section of the International Labour Organisation.

In its own words, “The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related issues. In promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, the organization continues to pursue its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity. Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent jobs and the kinds of economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress.”

The ILO’s website offers a treasure-store of information that can be viewed and downloaded on employment and unemployment, wages, hours of work, strikes, and workplace injuries from Afghanistan, Albania and Algeria to Yugoslavia (Former Socialist Fed. Rep of), Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Just to whet the appetite (and perhaps to encourage your students to study!) here’s a small extract from the information on unemployment by level of education in the UK, which clearly show the benefits of education!

Unemployment_by_Education_Level.xls

International Labour Organisation Department of Statistics