One in six young people have lost jobs since the outburst of Covid-19 pandemic with women most affected while those who remain employed have seen their working hours cut by 23%, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said on Wednesday, calling for targeted policy reforms to support youth. “If their talent and energy is side-lined by a lack of opportunity or skills it will damage all our futures and make it much more difficult to re-build a better, post-COVID economy,” Ryder said.
According to ILO, the pandemic is inflicting a triple shock on young people. “Not only is it destroying their employment, but it is also disrupting education and training, and placing major obstacles in the way of those seeking to enter the labour market or to move between jobs,” it said.
“Creating an employment-rich recovery that also promotes equity and sustainability means getting people and enterprises working again as soon as possible, in safe conditions,” said Ryder.
“Testing and tracing can be an important part of the policy package if we are to fight fear, reduce risk and get our economies and societies moving again quickly.”
Youth unemployment was highest in 2019 at 13.6%, higher than for any other group. There were around 267 million young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) worldwide. Besides, the working population in the 15-24 year age group who were employed are also more likely to be in forms of work that leave them vulnerable, such as low paid occupations, informal sector work, or as migrant workers, according to the reports.