Closing the digital gap can unlock jobs and reduce poverty

Jobs are the surest way to end poverty and give people hope for a better future. That’s why countries need to build economies that unlock opportunities for people and convert growth into local jobs.

Yet household survey data across dozens of countries reveal a stubborn obstacle: the world’s poorest people remain disconnected from the digital tools that now underpin labor markets, agricultural productivity, and economic mobility. Digital technologies cannot reduce poverty if they bypass the people who need them the most.

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India: World Bank Approves Three Projects in Assam State to Increase Access to Markets, Jobs and Services

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2026 —The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved three projects to help the Indian state of Assam increase resilience to extreme weather events, improve governance and service delivery, and provide more than 4 million students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce.  

Assam, located in India’s northeast, is uniquely positioned as the gateway to Southeast Asia, offering strategic connectivity for regional trade and integration. At the same time, Assam faces challenges such as climate vulnerability, inadequate infrastructure, and multidimensional poverty, which hinder inclusive growth.

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Delivering jobs at scale: How Brazil is redefining the first step onto the jobs ladder

A real understanding of the impact of economic inclusion programs comes from seeing lives change—standing beside women building small businesses, young people stepping into formal jobs, and families beginning to plan for the future. These moments become possible and inevitable when governments and their partners invest the time and resources to design and deliver economic inclusion for the poor.  

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Brazil’s Northeast can be a Catalyst for Jobs, Growth, Clean Energy, and Economic Opportunity

Brazil’s Northeast is poised to play a pivotal role in the country’s progress and prosperity, according to a new World Bank report, “Routes to the Northeast: Productivity, Jobs, and Inclusion,” which outlines how the region can unlock its potential and create jobs by pivoting to a more dynamic growth model. Home to 54 million residents—80 percent of them of working age—, the region offers one of Brazil’s largest and most dynamic labor pools.

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Promoting Productivity Would Boost GDP and Create More and Better Jobs for Countries in Europe and Central Asia

WASHINGTON, November 24, 2025—Countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) should urgently push to make more efficient use of existing economic assets and invest in the capabilities of its firms and people to unlock faster growth, according to a new World Bank report released today.

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Job Creation Key to Equality and Faster Poverty Reduction in Bangladesh, says World Bank

DHAKA, November 25, 2025 — Bangladesh reduced poverty significantly between 2010-2022, lifting 34 million people out of poverty while improving living standards and access to essential services like electricity, education, and sanitation, but since 2016, the pace of poverty reduction slowed and economic growth became less inclusive, says a new report launched today.

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Health Works: Creating Jobs & Growth Through Quality Care

Good health empowers people, creates jobs, and drives economic growth. It fuels productivity, strengthens resilience, and acts as a powerful engine for employment—each health job generates up to 3.5 additional jobs in related sectors. We are working closely with countries and partners to reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030 which could create 29 million additional jobs. Investing in health is investing in economic opportunity. Join us in advancing health for all—share this video, start a conversation, and support efforts to expand quality, affordable health care. Together, we can create healthier communities, unlock economic opportunity, and build a brighter future for all. 

“Credit: World Bank Group. All rights reserved”

Why bridging Africa’s skills gap is crucial for growth

Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic promise is clear. It has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population; by 2050 a quarter of the world’s working-age population will be living in Africa, with vast natural resources, and expanding regional markets. Yet these strengths are undermined by a persistent weakness: the region’s skills gap. 

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Digital technology is driving the future of jobs

A farmer in Kenya uses mobile apps to get real-time harvesting tips, check market prices, and connect directly with buyers and lenders. A woman in Indonesia takes meal orders and arranges deliveries through social media. A small innkeeper in Jamaica lists rooms on booking platforms and manages reservations online. A street vendor in Dakar sells handmade jewelry across Africa using just her smartphone. And in Manila, a university student teaches math to high schoolers in remote areas via an online e-learning platform. 

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