ILO Jobs: Careers with the International Labour Organization
The ILO sets labour standards and supports decent work worldwide. Here's what working for the ILO looks like, what roles exist, and how to apply.
ILO Jobs: Careers with the International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the UN's specialised agency for labour issues — the oldest UN agency, founded in 1919. Its mandate is to promote decent work: fair wages, safe working conditions, freedom of association, and social protection. With 187 member states represented through governments, employers, and workers, the ILO has a unique tripartite structure that shapes how it works and recruits.
What the ILO Does
The ILO operates across four strategic objectives:
1. Promote and realise standards: the ILO sets and monitors international labour standards through conventions and recommendations
2. Decent employment opportunities: programmes to reduce unemployment and promote productive work
3. Social protection: expanding social protection floors, occupational safety and health, and labour inspection
4. Tripartism and social dialogue: supporting dialogue between governments, employers, and workers
These priorities translate into technical programmes in skills development, employment policy, social protection, labour administration, and enterprise development across 40+ field offices worldwide.
ILO's Structure and Recruitment
The ILO headquartered in Geneva recruits both at HQ and through a network of regional offices (Bangkok, Beirut, Cairo, Dakar, Lima, Pretoria) and country offices in over 40 countries.
Professional grades: P1–D2, following the UN Common System. Most professional staff are specialists in labour economics, labour law, social protection, or occupational safety and health.
General Service: administrative and support staff at HQ and field offices.
Consultants: technical specialists engaged for specific deliverables — a large part of ILO's field capacity is delivered through consultants.
What the ILO Recruits
The ILO's professional areas reflect its mandate:
- Labour economists: employment analysis, wage policy, labour market modelling
- Social protection specialists: social security systems, pension reform, healthcare financing
- Labour law specialists: convention application, labour inspection, collective bargaining
- Occupational safety and health (OSH) specialists: workplace standards, OSH management systems
- Skills development specialists: TVET (technical and vocational education and training), apprenticeships
- Enterprise and value chain specialists: small enterprise development, business enabling environment
- Child labour specialists: particularly the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)
The Application Process
ILO vacancies are posted on jobs.ilo.org. The process follows the standard UN pattern:
1. Complete online profile
2. Apply to specific vacancy with a cover letter addressing the listed competencies
3. Written technical assessment for most professional roles
4. Competency-based interview
The ILO's competency framework emphasises: integrity and transparency, sensitivity to diversity, results orientation, client orientation, communication, and learning and sharing knowledge.
Consultancy Opportunities
The ILO engages a large number of consultants for technical work in its field offices. These range from short-term assignments (one to three months) to longer-term embedded positions. ILO consultancy opportunities are posted on jobs.ilo.org and aggregated on DevProcure.
Find all ILO vacancies — staff positions and consultancies — on DevProcure alongside opportunities from WHO, UNDP, and 200+ other international organisations.