Goal 8 of 17
Decent work and economic growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
What this goal is about
Goal 8 joins two ideas: economies that grow steadily without wrecking the environment, and work that is productive, fairly paid, safe and secure. Growth alone does not count if it leaves most workers informal, underpaid or unprotected.
The headline numbers look mixed. Global unemployment was 4.9% in 2025, close to a record low, yet 57.9% of workers were in informal jobs, without contracts or social protection. One in five young people was not in work, education or training, and about 138 million children were still in child labour.
For businesses, Goal 8 is the most direct of all the goals. Every employer decides how people are hired, paid, trained and kept safe, and which suppliers it buys from.
The main targets
Sustain per capita economic growth, with at least 7% annual GDP growth in the least developed countries.
Raise productivity through diversification, technology upgrades and innovation, including in labour-intensive sectors.
Support policies for productive jobs and entrepreneurship, and help micro, small and medium firms formalise and grow, including through finance.
By 2030, full and productive employment and decent work for all, including young people and disabled people, with equal pay for equal work.
Substantially reduce the share of young people not in employment, education or training (originally due by 2020).
End forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking, and end all forms of child labour by 2025.
Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all, including migrant workers and those in precarious jobs.
Strengthen domestic financial institutions so everyone can use banking, insurance and financial services.
Summaries in plain English. The full wording of every target and indicator is on the UN Goal 8 page.
What businesses can do
- Put terms in writing. Give every worker, including part-time and contract staff, written terms on pay, hours and duties, and pay on time, every time.
- Pay fairly and check for gaps. Pay at least the legal minimum, set pay bands by role and check once a year that people doing work of equal value are paid equally.
- Make work safe. Assess the risks in each job, from heat and machinery to long hours, and act on what you find. Let staff raise concerns without fear.
- Open doors for young people. Offer paid internships, apprenticeships or first jobs with real training. It is one of the most direct contributions to target 8.6.
- Know your suppliers. Ask suppliers about child labour, forced labour and recruitment fees, especially in high-risk sectors, and follow up when answers are vague.
What you can do
- Know your rights at work. Learn the basics of minimum pay, working hours and contracts where you live, and read any offer before you sign it.
- Build skills that travel. Writing, numeracy, digital skills and a trade or specialism all help. Short courses and apprenticeships count as much as degrees.
- Watch for job scams. Never pay to get a job and never share ID documents or bank details with an unverified recruiter. Ask a parent, teacher or trusted adult if unsure.
- Buy with your values. Where you can, choose brands and local businesses that are open about how they treat workers and suppliers.
Digital tools help most on Goal 8 where they bring informal workers and small firms into formal systems. India's e-Shram portal had 31.89 crore registrations of unorganised workers by August 2026 and links them to welfare, skilling and job services. Mobile money and digital payments have widened access to accounts: the World Bank's Global Findex 2025 found 79% of adults have one. Payroll, HR and scheduling software make it easier for small employers to pay correctly and on time. Limits matter: about one in four jobs worldwide is exposed to generative AI, according to the ILO, and platform work can lack basic protections.
Sources
- UN DESA, Goal 8 targets and indicators
- United Nations, Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
- United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026: Goal 8
- United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025: Goal 8
- Government of India, PIB, five years of the e-Shram portal (2026)
- World Bank, Global Findex 2025 blog: digital technology and financial inclusion
- UN News, ILO generative AI and jobs index (2025)
The goal icon is the official United Nations icon, used for information under the UN guidelines for the use of the SDG logo and icons. The content of this page has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. Emberoot is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the UN.