This paper presents new data documenting the cost of salaried labor in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries. We gather data on the three main costs associated to hiring salaried labor; (i) minimum wages and other monetary benefits, (ii) mandated contributions for social insurance and other benefits and (iii) job security provisions. We present two new indicators. First, we calculate the average non-wage cost of salaried labor (NWC).

Social security systems in Latin America and the Caribbean face important challenges. Achieving universal coverage requires rethinking the pension systems in the region and establishing solid institutions that can promote and implement the necessary changes for an effective social security. The IDB created Red PLAC in 2015 to support the efforts of Latin American and Caribbean countries in improving the institutional and technical capacity of pension institutions.

Data from checklist observations on seven home visit parenting programs in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The data files supported the publication "Better Pensions, Better Jobs: Towards Universal Coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean".

Jobs are essential for the growth of individuals and countries alike. Achieving personal fulfillment is harder without a job, just as an economy as a whole cannot develop without the impetus of the labor market. These two perspectives unquestionably go hand in hand: from the individual perspective, finding a good job is a legitimate aspiration for anyone who wishes to support oneself and one's family; from the societal perspective, creating more and better jobs is essential to the achievement of lasting and equitable growth. Jobs for Growth rests on this dual vision.