In 2020, the global workforce lost an equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs, an estimated $3.7 trillion in wages and 4.4% of global GDP, a staggering toll on lives and livelihoods. While vaccine rollout has begun and the growth outlook is predicted to improve, an even socio-economic recovery is far from certain.
The choices made by policymakers, business leaders, workers and learners today will shape societies for years to come. At this critical crossroads, leaders must consciously, proactively and urgently lay the foundations of a new social contract, rebuilding our economies so they provide opportunity for all.
In this context, the Forum remains committed to working with the public- and private sectors to provide better skills, jobs and education to 1 billion people by 2030 through initiatives to close the skills gap and prepare for the ongoing technological transformation of the future of work.
China imposes hefty fines for sexist hiring practices
Under new guidelines, companies will be forbidden from asking female candidates about their marital status or possible pregnancies.
How to tap the talents of refugees – one student at a time
Taking direct action to put excluded people in education and work will benefit both them and the world economy.
This is how Sesame Street is improving children's education across the world
The Sesame Street model of learning is a very cost-effective method of reaching millions of children, and it is easy to replicate.
This princess was the world's first known author
The princess's literary works included poetry, astronomy and praise of the goddess of love.
South Korean women abandon makeup to fight male domination
A growing band of young women have given up makeup and cut their hair short to rebel against long-held ideals of beauty they say they've been subjected to in male-dominated South Korea.
Video games could help you to discover secret talents. Here's how
Engaged in a simulated environment, we can enter a state of 'flow' where we experience heightened focus and joy.
Faced with the force of love, 'Star Wars' women shed power and clothes, research finds
A recent study has revealed that two of the main female characters in the Star Wars franchise dress more skimpily when they fall in love, drawing criticism in the wake of the #MeToo movem...
Schools must look to the future when connecting students to the internet
A robust, future-proof and cost-efficient internet connection for students, in and out of school, is the foundation of a 21st-century education. But many schools are blindly replicating t...
Some airlines are introducing extra gender options for LGBT passengers
Several US airlines announced plans to include a third gender option for their passengers, now others are following.
How to make the most out of machine learning by investing in people and technology
Organisations need to get rid of legacy systems and invest in technology and skills to stay ahead of the game.
Office workers in these economies clock up the most extra hours
Investing in workplace wellbeing initiatives can sometimes be at odds with many old-school business attitudes. But spending money on keeping employees happy and healthy might be the singl...
In tough times, single mothers are spending more on their child's health
An economic shock—such as the loss of a job, income, wealth, or health insurance—does not affect two-parent families the same way, according to the new study.