Santiago, May 23 (Xinhua-RHC) -- Lackluster economic performance expected in Latin America is likely to stall employment in 2014, a new study shows.

The 2.7 percent growth rate projected for Latin America "is far from auspicious for the evolution of the regional labor market," according to the joint study released on Thursday by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the International Labor Organization.

The report states: "Given the modest economic growth ... a slow pace of employment growth is forecast, which means there will likely be no significant variations in the unemployment rate."

The two agencies appealed for unemployment insurance and other protective measures to help workers to confront the situation.

According to the study, weak economic growth in 2013 has led to weak labor demand, primarily affecting young people. The unemployment rate among youth was 14.3 percent in 2013, three times higher than the rate for older adults.