More than 30 million jobs around the world have gone as a result of the global financial markets crisis.

This is according to the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who has highlighted the importance of human welfare and stability as the world recovers from the impact of the downturn.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the IMF, explained that globalization, while offering a number of economic benefits, has contributed to an unequal distribution of wealth.

Speaking in Agadir, Morocco, he suggested this may have stoked the global financial crisis and noted that it threatens economic and social stability.

Mr Strauss-Kahn emphasized the need "to end the scourge of unemployment" and support jobs growth, in particular for young people.

"If you lose your job, you are more likely to suffer from health problems, or even die younger," he pointed out, adding that a new globalization is needed for future labor markets.

Meanwhile, the IMF recently concluded a mission to Romania, with chief of the exercise Jeffrey Franks forecasting economic growth of between 1.5 and two per cent for the country in 2011, as it stabilizes.

Posted by Lee Thrace