The livestock sector is important for employment across the world.

At least 1.3 billion people are involved in livestock value chains globally, with over half of these dependent on livestock for their livelihoods.

In Kenya, some 20% of the population are employed in the livestock sector, 60% of them are women. In the EU, around 4 million people are employed on livestock farms, with 30 million employed across the entire livestock sector, largely in processing. 

National rural development policies and programs should integrate livestock. It has growing potential to create employment for youth and women in livestock keeping, processing livestock products, producing and selling livestock feeds, and providing livestock information services.

The livestock sector has the potential to increase labour productivity and provide employment and job opportunities, particularly for young people.

Sustainable development policies in dryland settings should balance the goals of improved livelihoods of livestock keepers and environmental conservation. Policies should help to diversity enterprises beyond livestock, as well as accounting for the fragility of many pastoral environments, and supporting sustainable livestock keeping. New public-private partnerships should also be supported to provide veterinary services in remote pastoral settings.