Responding to the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

A review of policies, programmes and interventions used to address labour market challenges facing young people in Asia and the Pacific region

Overview

The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to contain its spread and mitigate its social and economic repercussions, necessitated substantial fiscal investments to prevent mass layoffs and economic downturns. Consequently, governments worldwide, find themselves financially stretched, limiting their capacity to address the urgent needs of those hardest hit by the crisis. The prolonged nature of the pandemic and the emergence of new variants have further complicated the formulation and execution of medium to long-term recovery strategies.

It’s imperative to implement policies that assist young people in overcoming the social and economic challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. Such measures are vital not only for the well-being of individuals but also for securing the future economic stability of our nations. However, as highlighted in this report, there was a pressing need for youth-centric policies even before the pandemic struck. Additionally, many countries have failed to allocate sufficient funds towards creating decent job opportunities, exacerbating the plight of millions of disadvantaged young individuals. Crafting effective and equitable policy solutions has become even more daunting amid heightened fiscal pressures due to the pandemic.

Decision makers, supported by financially stronger nations and multilateral donors, must now focus on identifying effective policies, interventions, and exemplary practices at the local level. Critical questions revolve around how to best allocate and utilize available fiscal resources to tackle youth unemployment and how to design policies that prioritize a people-centered approach to the future of work for young individuals.

This report delves into these inquiries, shedding light on the social and economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people in our region. It examines economic and labor market policies and interventions both before and in response to the intensified challenges faced by young individuals. Drawing on the latest economic and social data from the region and analyzing case studies from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Australia, and the Republic of Korea, the report underscores how the pandemic has exposed government vulnerabilities and underscored the inadequacies in supporting the most vulnerable segments of society, exacerbating pre-existing patterns of disadvantage.

This project was conducted under the supervision of the ILO. For more information, please contact us.