In the first quarter of 2019, the global unemployment rate remained low, with around half (24 of the 49) of the countries analyzed in the report showing levels of 5.0 percent or less. Among those, 20 of the 49 countries in the report announced decreases in national unemployment rates since Q4 2018.

The current economic environment worldwide is still precarious. While 2018 was generally positive, growth in the first quarter of 2019 has weakened. On the other hand, the global economy is still benefiting from tight labor markets and has been accommodating towards monetary and policy stimulus in certain countries, such as China, Egypt, India, and the United States. 

In the United States, stocks finished their best quarter in nearly a decade, with the S&P 500 closing at 13.1 percent for the first quarter, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 11.2 percent in the first quarter.

What else does this report say about global economic and labor market trends? Download the report to find out.