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.
This is how many hours teachers work in public schools around the world
On average, school teachers in OECD countries have to teach 865 hours per year in public institutions, with those in Costa Rica working as many as 1,134.
These 12 innovators are transforming the future of education
COVID-19 continues to disrupt schoolchildren’s right to a quality education. These innovators from around the world are working to close learning gaps.
4 opportunities for business to help children overcome today’s challenges
Now is the time to harness the power of public-private sector partnerships to create a cross-pollination of ideas for the challenges facing children today.
SDIS21: Society & the Future of Work - What are the challenges in making society and work more sustainable?
COVID-19 set us back on achieving many of the SDGs education, gender and work targets. Placing women and youth at the center of recovery can get us back on track.
In times of racial injustice, university education should not be ‘neutral’
Universities provide an environment to shape the world in which we want to live and help students contribute to an equitable world.
Three steps to get every child reading
COVID-19 has worsened the existing global learning crisis, with 53% of children in low and low-middle income countries in Learning Poverty.
How can we create fun and effective learning opportunities for children in public spaces?
Three experts explore existing public play projects, including the Urban Thinkscape bus stop, which can inspire other similar ideas.
These are the world's largest book publishers
Despite readers shifting to e-books and audio books, the print book market is still going strong. This chart shows the top 8 book publishers globally.
Animals are changing their body shapes to cope with climate change
A study has found that animals are adapting to climate change by changing the size of their ears, tails and beaks to regulate their internal temperature.
This is how COVID-19 lockdowns affected India's schoolchildren
Nearly 40% of students in underprivileged households in India have not been studying during school closures, caused by COVID-19, according to a new report.
Bridging the digital divide to create the jobs of the future
Governments and businesses must work together to encourage digital training and close the skills gap holding back large segments of the global economy.
Africa Teen Geeks' Lindiwe Matlali: True leaders seek impact, not accolades
Africa's largest computer science non-profit looks to reshape opportunity in Africa by teaching kids to code and creating a pipeline of tech leaders and entrepreneurs. Matlali built this ...