The COVID-19 pandemic dominated the global economy for a second year in 2021, preventing a full and balanced recovery of labour markets. Furthermore, pandemic-related disruptions, structural deficiencies and new risks have reduced the potential for decent work to be created.

This year’s World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends provides a comprehensive assessment of how the labour market recovery is projected to unfold. The world is expected to experience a great divergence, depending on countries’ access to vaccines and their capacity to put in place supportive macroeconomic policies. The report also discusses pre-existing and new global and regional challenges that risk derailing the recovery, thereby prolonging current labour market deficits. Finally, the report investigates trends in temporary employment both before and during the crisis.