Employment Employment is another area in whichthe summary category masks some important differences among its elements. Administrators were asked about three types of umemployment: general, male, female, and then about the condition of child labor as well. As table 22 stloWs, the most serious problems are with generaI and male unemployment, and the least serious or most favorable conditions occur with child labor.

All of the problems are, as expected, less serious in Japan than in the other countries. But even In Japan 2 admimistrators find general unemployment problems serious ones. None, however, finds the problem of child hbor a scrious one. Korean unemployment problems are considered somewhat more serious than in Japan. General and male unemployment is considered a serious problem by about 7 or 8 (39-44%) of the admimisttators. Female unemployment and child labor are considered serious by only a few Korean administrators, whiIe as many find the condition satisLhctory or advantageous. It is in the poorer countries that all the employment problems are more serious.

TabIe 22
Problem Perceplion for the Four
Specific Elements of Employment

All countries fbllow the same trend seen in table 22. Male unemployment is more serious than female employment, and child labor is the least serious problem. Even here, however, 21 or 28% of the administrators responding find this to be an urgent or serious problem. Child labor is a very mixed condition. In China, 3 admimistrators see it as a serious problem while 7 see it as satisfactory or advantageous.

Even in India, the Philippines and Thailand, where the picture seems quite grim, in some cities the condition is considered satisfactory or even advantageous.*6

*6 In view of the publicity given to the child labor problem in the low income countries by such organizations as UNICEF, ILO and some non-governmental organizations, we may wonder if the admimistrators are reporting actual conditions or what many have come to accept as inevitable especially among poor people in low income countries.