The labor, task or duty that is one's accustomed means of livelihood. 

Jobs are at the heart of a country's growth and a person's security and livelihood. Economic growth isn't possible without jobs and opportunities.

People around the world say that finding a decent job would help them escape poverty, according to Voices of the Poor, a World Bank survey that captured the perspectives of poor people. Studies confirm this—the vast majority of people who escape from poverty do so by starting their own business or finding work in an existing one, according to the Doing Business 2006 report (pdf).

Most employment is in the private sector, which accounts for more than 90% of jobs in most countries.

Private businesses help increase production and help countries grow more. But in many countries, laws and regulations (good legal systems, fair tax policies) aren't developed in ways that let the private sector thrive and compete globally.

In some countries it's nearly impossible to start a business, according to Doing Business 2009. For example:

• In Suriname, the start-up procedures would take 694 days to open a new business
• In Syria a person would have to put up $77,000 in minimum capital, which is 44 times average annual income
• To build a warehouse in Liberia, the fees for utility hook-up and compliance with building regulations would amount to 610 times average income
• In Timor-Leste, it would take 1,800 days to resolve a simple dispute in the courts
• In the Gambia, it would cost a company 292% of its gross profit to pay all business taxes

Complicated and costly regulations often drive people to operate businesses in the informal economy. This means that while they don't pay taxes, they also lack access to credit and better utility services that could help their business expand. It also means they don't provide any benefits (health and pension) to their employees.

In many developing countries today more than half of the population works in the informal economy, mostly women and young and inexperienced workers.

• A billion people will reach working age within the next decade. Many aren't entering the workforce
• Some 77 million young women and men were unemployed worldwide in 2008, the International Labour Organization estimates
• They accounted for about 40% of all the 193 million unemployed persons globally
• Young women and men on average more than three times as likely to be unemployed than older generations
• Most young people who do work are in vulnerable employment, often without health and other social benefits
• Unemployment is even higher for young people who have disabilities, are female, or belong to minority ethnic groups

Most jobs available to youth are low-paid, part-time, and insecure positions, with few benefits or prospects for advancement. These jobs often don't provide enough income to cover basic necessities.

When young people can't find meaningful, productive and secure jobs, this can lead to wider societal problems:

• More poverty among youth
• Delays in marriage and starting a family
• Feelings of being marginalized, excluded and frustrated which can lead to behavior that imposes a burden on society
• When young people, especially men, feel that there is no prospect of finding a job they are more likely to drop out of school

World leaders resolved during the 2000 UN Millennium Summit to "develop and implement strategies that give young people everywhere a real chance to find decent and productive work." Youth employment is important to reducing poverty. The Youth Employment Network was created as a result. It is a global alliance to support countries in developing national action plans on youth employment.

International organizations such as the International Labour Organization work to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, including young people.

Other organizations, such as the World Bank, work to promote development of private business and sound government systems. This helps countries grow and create job opportunities, including for young people.

Also, international development banks, including the World Bank, and non-governmental organizations provide microfinance to poor people. Microfinance are small loans that help poor people who wish to start or expand small businesses but are not able to get banks to lend to them. This helps poor people get access to savings, credit and other financial services.

Microfinance stimulates self-employment and provides young people with entrepreneurial skills that provide them with livelihoods and improve their life prospects considerably.

• Learn more about laws and regulations in your country. See if they are fair, transparent, and business-friendly. If not, get involved to improve them.
• Find your national Chamber of Commerce to learn more about the private sector in your country and the opportunities and difficulties businesses face.
• Think about what it takes to become an entrepreneur and find creative ways to start a business.
• Contact the Youth Employment Network and learn whether your country has a national action plan on youth employment. Then get involved.
• Check out the Youth Employment Summit (YES), an international youth organization that's empowering youth to create sustainable livelihoods.