In its flagship World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2022 (WESO Trends), ILO has downgraded its 2022 labour market recovery forecast, projecting a continuing major deficit in the number of working hours compared to the pre-pandemic era.
“Two years into this crisis, the outlook remains fragile and the path to recovery is slow and uncertain”, said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.
Last May’s previous full-year estimate, forecasted a deficit equivalent to 26 million full-time jobs.
While this latest projection is an improvement on the 2021 situation, it remains almost two per cent below the number of pre-pandemic hours worked globally, the report pointed out.
Moreover, global unemployment is expected to remain above pre-COVID levels until at least 2023.
The 2022 level for those without jobs, is estimated at 207 million, compared to 186 million in 2019.
“Many workers are being required to shift to new types of work – for example in response to the prolonged slump in international travel and tourism”, added the ILO chief.
