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.
Want to add trillions to the global economy? Back female founders
With a report revealing that supporting female entrepreneurs could boost the global economic growth, unequal access to finance remains one of the key issues which prevents women from ente...
The EU’s proposal for earmarked parental leave will have a major impact on gender equality
The European Parliament recently proposed a requirement that each parent have the right to two months of non-transferable or ‘earmarked’ paid leave.The findings suggest that such reforms ...
How field schools have been empowering farmers for 30 years
Since 1989, farmer field schools (FFS) have been empowering farmers to drive sustainable development at local level.
New York’s organic farming industry is booming – led by a diverse workforce
In New York, a diverse, new group works the soil. Women and non-binary people are running some of the best-known organic farms on Long Island, in what is a growing, $50 billion industry n...
LGBT+ women footballers score as male players fear to come out
Men's football still lacks top-tier openly gay players, while the women's game is full of proudly lesbian and bisexual stars.
Katherine Johnson and 9 other women written out of the history books
These women, despite working for organisations such as NASA, were written out of history. Among them are scientists, architects, photographers, artists and inventors.
Family-friendly policies benefit all of us. Here are 4 ways to boost them
Policies that support young families, like parental leave, have been shown to save lives, improve health outcomes and deliver economic benefits. Here are 4 ways to transform the way we lo...
The way children draw human figures has changed since the 1970s, reflecting modern society's attitudes to gender
Schoolchildren in Germany are drawing females with more feminine features such as hairstyles, clothing and jewellery. This wasn't the case in 1977 when they were drawn seemingly more masc...
It will take a lot more than free menstrual pads to end period poverty
Free and cheaper products are clearly necessary in some situations, and can manage short-term issues, but they will not solve what is a complex socio-economic issue.
Taiwan is dropping gender-specific uniforms in its schools
A school in Taiwan is dropping gender-specific uniforms in a positive boost for LGBT+ and gender equality. Both boys and girls will be allowed to wear skirts at Banqiao Senior High School...
An algorithm may decide your next pay raise
Salary increases could soon be decided by algorithms generated by artificial intelligence (A.I.). McKinsey reported in a recent study, that two-thirds of employers say they're making big ...
Gender matters in responding to major disease outbreaks like Ebola
Women have been found to provide the bulk of care to people infected with diseases, putting them at a higher risk of infection, as well financial, social and psychological stress.