Atlas of Global Development 2026 © 2026 World Bank Group,

Atlas of Global Development 2026 The Atlas of Global Development 2026 presents interactive storytelling and data visualizations on key global trends related to people, prosperity, our planet, infrastructure, and digital transformation. https://data360.worldbank.org/en/atlas/ © 2026 World Bank Group,

Skills Are Used and Built on the Job © 2026 World Bank Group,

Skills Are Used and Built on the Job Education is one of the most powerful drivers of growth and poverty reduction. Each year of schooling that a worker attains improves productivity and wages. But learning does not end at school; workers acquire a significant share of their skills through on-the-job learning. May 2026, Story by Brian Stacy, Visuals by Christian Laesser https://data360.worldbank.org/en/atlas/learning-and-work/?intcid=ecr_hp_trendingdata_en_ext © 2026 World Bank Group,

South Asia opens up: How trade reforms impact households and sectors Hagen KruseFranziska Ohnsorge May 28, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/trade/south-asia-trade-reforms-impact-households-and-sectors Over the next decade, about 280 million people will come of working age in South Asia. The region needs a robust growth engine to create jobs for these labor market entrants. International trade emerges as a promising source to boost economic growth. South Asia has long been the least open emerging market and developing economy (EMDE) region to global trade. In 2024, exports of goods represented only around 12 percent of GDP in South Asia—about half the share in other EMDEs. In part, this reflects the region’s exceptionally high import tariffs, with domestic manufacturing firms facing average tariffs on intermediate inputs that are more than double those in other EMDEs © 2026 World Bank Group,

Weekly links May 29: labor force participation, the Zona Franca in Manaus, research transparency in the AI era, and more… David McKenzie May 29, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/impactevaluations/weekly-links-may-29--labor-force-participation--the-zona-franca- Planet Money has an episode on the Middle Income trap and the successes and challenges of Brazil’s Zona Franca in Manaus · This new philanthropic effort “The Africa Jobs Fund” looks interesting – it aims to support companies/organizations that get workers into export manufacturing, and international labor mobility. © 2026 World Bank Group,

Mobile phone data for poverty targeting: what we learned from four countries Emily AikenJoshua BlumenstockSveta MilushevaMerritt Smith June 01, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/mobile-phone-data-for-poverty-targeting--what-we-learned-from-fo Timely and accurate data is essential to effective poverty reduction and social protection. Whether designing a cash transfer program or directing infrastructure investment, policymakers need reliable information on where the poor are and what resources they lack. © 2026 World Bank Group,

Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://www.worldbank.org/en/businessready The Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 report assesses the regulatory framework and public services directed at firms, and the efficiency with which regulatory framework and public services are combined in practice. © 2026 World Bank Group,

Time over money: what global labor data reveal about employment protections Selda Dudu June 01, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/time-over-money--what-global-labor-data-reveal-about-employment- If you were told your job is ending, would you rather receive more time to find a new job, or more money to cushion the landing to unemployment? Around the world, employment laws answer that question differently. Employment protection legislation shapes the reservation wage, search intensity, and financial capacity of displaced workers throughout the unemployment spell. The B-READY 2025 data show that notice periods are highly standardized across income-based country groups, while severance pay varies substantially, especially among middle-income economies. © 2026 World Bank Group,