South Asian economies proved resilient in the face of the global economic difficulties during 2001-2002. Nevertheless, security concerns, poor weather conditions, a slowdown in exports and declining tourism revenues caused the employment situation to worsen. Poverty increased, as did the number of working poor. The region's unemployment rate rose from 2.9 per cent in 1995 to 3.4 per cent in 2002, with unemployment rates in Pakistan, for example, climbing in recent years to nearly 8 per cent. The unfavourable employment situation in 2001 and 2002 also points to an increase in the number of people with low incomes and poor working conditions in the informal economy, rather than sharp increases in unemployment rates.
Sub-Saharan Africa managed to sustain a fairly constant economic growth rate, though in per capita terms it is often below 1 per cent. The open unemployment rate increased from 13.7 per cent in 2000 to 14.4 per cent in 2002, though estimates for 2002 may be revised due to a growing food crisis. In addition to child labour and job loss due to conflicts, an issue of growing importance for the region is the "brain drain" syphoning off much-needed human capital. The health situation, especially HIV/AIDS, is also having a severe impact on human capital. In Tanzania, for example, a recent study showed the HIV/AIDS epidemic was forcing more and more children and juveniles aged 10-19 into the labour force as the number of adults aged 20 to 35 fell ill or died.
Sub-Saharan Africa managed to sustain a fairly constant economic growth rate, though in per capita terms it is often below 1 per cent. The open unemployment rate increased from 13.7 per cent in 2000 to 14.4 per cent in 2002, though estimates for 2002 may be revised due to a growing food crisis. In addition to child labour and job loss due to conflicts, an issue of growing importance for the region is the "brain drain" syphoning off much-needed human capital. The health situation, especially HIV/AIDS, is also having a severe impact on human capital. In Tanzania, for example, a recent study showed the HIV/AIDS epidemic was forcing more and more children and juveniles aged 10-19 into the labour force as the number of adults aged 20 to 35 fell ill or died.