Literature review on the labour market impacts of value chain development interventions

A systematic literature review of the qualitative and quantitative impacts on the labour market of value chain development interventions. The review aims to distil the results of studies in order to answer the question of what are the outcomes of value chain interventions covering the quantity and quality of jobs created. 

Main findings

• Interventions can lead to manual and semi-skilled work, particularly in agriculture, natural resources and manufacturing. But it found little evidence that specific interventions result in large scale, long term job creation.
• Most studies (96 per cent) mentioned that jobs were created, but only a few (18 per cent) presented quantitative details about the number of jobs created.
• 11 per cent of studies mentioned that the desired impact of job creation was not achieved.
• 30 per cent of the interventions reported that manual jobs were created; 30 per cent of the interventions resulted in semi-skilled jobs, and 9 per cent of the interventions resulted in skilled jobs.
• Engaging (local) private sector investors in chain interventions proved to be a key success factor to create permanent jobs.
• Interventions that improve infrastructure and engage government partners also proved to be successful in creating sustainable jobs.
• Interventions in light manufacturing created most jobs.

Intervention description

As a literature review, the paper analyses several reports relating to various kinds of intervention. However, in each case they might be described as value chain intervention, with the intention of improved efficiency, job creation and economic growth.

Evidence methodology

• Literature was searched for in websites, digital libraries, bibliographic scientific databases and publically available databases using the search terms to screen the title and abstract. This resulted in 99 studies being retained and stored in an Endnote database. These were subsequently reviewed.
• The resulting 53 texts were subject to a full review. Texts were manually coded in accordance with key search terms. They were analysed using the EPPI software to determine trends and compare and cross tabulate different variables.

Useful for:

Anyone seeking a thorough and exhaustive assessment of the value chain development approach.