Four times as many jobs were lost last year due to the coronavirus pandemic as during the worst part of the global financial crisis in 2009, a U.N. report said Monday.
The International Labor Organization estimated that the restrictions on businesses and public life destroyed 8.8% of all work hours around the world last year. That is equivalent to 255 million full-time jobs – quadruple the impact of the financial crisis over a decade ago.
“This has been the most severe crisis for the world of work since The Great Depression of the 1930s. Its impact is far greater than that of the global financial crisis of 2009,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. The fallout was almost equally split between reduced work hours and “unprecedented” job losses, he said.
The United Nations agency noted that most people who lost work stopped looking for a job altogether, likely because of restrictions on businesses that hire in big numbers like restaurants, bars, stores, hotels and other services that depend on face-to-face interactions.
The drop in work translates to a loss of $3.7 trillion in income globally — what Ryder called an “extraordinary figure” — with women and young people taking the biggest hits.
The ILO report expects a bounce back in jobs in the second half of the year. But that depends on a reduction in coronavirus infections and the rollout of vaccines. Currently, infections are rising or remain stubbornly high in many countries and vaccine distribution is still slow overall.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
On Air Today: Rebecca Tippett of Carolina DemographyDid the pandemic lead to more births or fewer? At the moment, Carolina Demography reports early indications are 2020 was largely a baby bust in North Carolina instead of a boom. Director Rebecca Tippett joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell to share details on the limited data, as well as other pieces of their recent NC in Focus report.

China Records 1st Population Fall in Decades as Births DropWritten by KEN MORITSUGU China’s population shrank for the first time in decades last year as its birthrate plunged, official figures showed Tuesday, adding to pressure on leaders to keep the economy growing despite an aging workforce and at a time of rising tension with the U.S. Despite the official numbers, some experts believe China’s […]

Gen Z, Millennials Speak Out on Reluctance To Become ParentsWritten by LEANNE ITALIE At 24, El Johnson has made up her mind that she won’t bear children, though she and her girlfriend haven’t ruled out adoption. The graduate student who works in legal services in Austin, Texas, has a list of reasons for not wanting to give birth: the climate crisis and a genetic […]
![]()
On Air Today: Rebecca Tippett of Carolina DemographyCarolina Demography's Rebecca Tippett joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell to discuss the 2021 county population estimates recently shared by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Simply Spud-tacular: North Carolina Leads Nation in Sweet Potato ProductionFor the last 50 years North Carolina has led the nation in sweet potato production. Even during a challenging year for vegetables with increased storms, hurricanes and excessive rain in the state, North Carolina’s sweet potatoes still showed their resilience.
![]()
On Air Today: Rebecca Tippett of Carolina DemographyThere are now more than 1 million people in North Carolina who identify as Hispanic, making it one of the faster growing populations in the state. Carolina Demography’s Rebecca Tippett joins 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell to share data from a new report.

U.S. Census Data: North Carolina, Triangle Outpaces National Growth RateRecently released data from the 2020 U.S. Census shows a substantial population increase in North Carolina, with the state topping 10 million residents for the first time. A majority of that growth comes from an influx of adults and people of color in the state’s biggest cities.

2020 Census: North Carolina Sees Population Increase, Gains Seat in U.S. HouseAs a result of the 2020 U.S. Census data, North Carolina is one of six states to gain seats in the reapportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives. Other states gaining seats include Texas, Florida, Colorado, Oregon, and Montana, while seven states lost seats.

Census Delays Affect NC Redistricting Plans, Congressional AppointmentsState redistricting plans, allocated federal funding and congressional appointments remain up in the air as U.S. Census data is slowly calculated after delays stemming from the pandemic.
![]()
Job Losses From Virus 4 Times as Bad as ’09 Financial CrisisFour times as many jobs were lost last year due to the coronavirus pandemic as during the worst part of the global financial crisis in 2009, a U.N. report said Monday. The International Labor Organization estimated that the restrictions on businesses and public life destroyed 8.8% of all work hours around the world last year. […]
›
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines