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 key factor will help you become a better leader
Strong leadership can have a ripple effect, positively influencing those around you. While individuals are motivated differently, the common factor is a drive for success.
The growing number of female tech entrepreneurs in farming
Women make up nearly half the global workforce in farming, but many say their contribution has long gone unrecognised, particularly in developing countries.
These are the world’s best 'Golden Age' universities
Fuelled by new institutions, new fields of study and new attitudes, the years between 1945 and 1967 were a Golden Age for universities, according to Times Higher Education.
Why central banks need to promote more women
This column uses anonymised personnel data to analyse the career progression of men and women at the ECB. A wage gap in favour of men emerges within a few years of hiring, with one import...
The women’s world cup is giving athletes a platform to demand equality
From the U.S. team suing over pay gaps, to star player Ada Hegerberg quitting Norway's team in protest, female players and fans use World Cup spotlight to voice equality concerns.
Skills, not job titles, are the new metric for the labour market
A more fine-grained approach to understanding the shifts in today's fast-mutating jobs market is overdue.
Getting African Women into the Boardroom
In recent years, African women have made great strides in getting their voices heard in politics and government. It is time for businesses within the region and around the world to embrac...
These are the world's best universities
The top 10 continues to be dominated by Western institutions.
What makes a great CEO? The people they surround themselves with
Despite different business cultures, workers in five countries all give CEOs better ratings when they have strong leadership teams around them.
Amsterdam's first woman mayor plans to overhaul the red-light district
The changes have three main aims, to protect women from degrading work conditions, to cut crime and to revive the 500-year-old neighbourhood.
Wimbledon removes ‘Miss’ and ‘Mrs’ from the game
Umpires at Wimbledon have stopped using prefixes such as 'Miss' and 'Mrs' at the end of each game. The move ends a long standing tradition and brings the women's game in line with the men...
Is the idea of the 'resilient woman' problematic for women today?
In media and popular culture, women are increasingly encouraged to become resilient. This is problematic.