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.
After #MeToo, U.S. women report less workplace harassment
#MeToo movement began in 2017 as a response to accusations of sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood.
The key ingredient to saving the world $1 billion every day? Breast milk
Breastfeeding can help prevent diarrhea and pneumonia, two major causes of infant death, and protect mothers against ovarian and breast cancer.
The best books for summer 2019, according to data
67 book lists have been mined to compile the ultimate summer reading list.
This all-female crew is sailing the seas to get rid of plastic waste
Some marine experts have warned there could be more plastic than fish by 2050.
Music festivals have a gender problem - here's how to fix it
There is a gender imbalance between line-ups in music festivals, with more men headlining than women.
6 ways to have a more efficient working day
As part of a series of Forbes articles, Avery Blank discusses 6 top tips for making more time in your workday.
Policies that target gender inequality boost family health
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis has shown that initiatives such as tuition-free primary education and paid parental leave can improve health for women and their children.
Torn between farming work and domestic chores, India’s rural women are struggling
Indian women are forced to take on numerous responsibilities including housework and employment, but this has a grave impact on the time left for child support.
Here's how to make sure you don't put your child off reading
Although not everyone is a bookworm, a solid grounding in reading from a young age brings a variety of benefits to a child.
Where do libraries loan out the most books?
Libraries are an important part of public learning, and some cities make a lot more use of the books available to them than others.
Brexit must not put UK university research at risk
Pulling out of Europe threatens the funding and international cooperation on which cutting-edge research depends.
‘Business as usual’ will not achieve global education goals
New data show the extent to which the world is off track in its education commitments