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.

The objective of this Technical Note is to describe the way competitive funds operate, based on examples from developed countries. The ultimate goal is to inform and guide its possible design and implementation in Latin American and Caribbean countries. The selected examples offer interesting contrasts due to the heterogeneity of their design, objectives and operation. In addition, these are new funds that were recently designed by the respective governments, with the purpose of introducing improvements in public policies for financing job training.

The objective of this Technical Note is to describe the way competitive funds operate, based on examples from developed countries. The ultimate goal is to inform and guide its possible design and implementation in Latin American and Caribbean countries. The selected examples offer interesting contrasts due to the heterogeneity of their design, objectives and operation. In addition, these are new funds that were recently designed by the respective governments, with the purpose of introducing improvements in public policies for financing job training.

The lack of high-quality professional training and development and the unequal distribution of human resources suggests there is a need for a greater focus on how to better recruit, train, and retain excellent teachers.

School absenteeism in the region remains high and has increased. This is worrisome, since it is linked to a deteriorating school environment and worse results. Moreover, absenteeism is higher among the most disadvantaged students.