May 28, 2020

Andrew Campbell 

The UN International Labor Organization (ILO) released May 27 a report on “ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work. Fourth edition Updated estimates and analysis”. The latest study revealed evidence of the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on the global job market that more than one in six young people has stopped working since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to ILO’s monitor, young people are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis with multiple shocks including disruption to education and training, employment and income losses, and greater difficulties in finding a job. Thus, ILO indicated young people constitute major victims of social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and will be scarred throughout their working lives as the emergence of a “lockdown generation”.

ILO urged governments to conduct widespread coronavirus testing and tracing of infections, as recommended by WHO, to help reduce working hour losses estimated as much as 50% associated mostly with lower labor market disruption and get economies back to the track.

In addition, the ILO appealed governments to provide comprehensive solutions to challenges such as urgent and large-scale policy responses to prevent long-lasting damage to young people in terms of education and training and labor market prospects.