COVID-19 is causing activity to collapse and unemployment to soar

This Recession is Global

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) is an international organisation. Today, our 37 Member countries span the globe, from North and South America to Europe and Asia-Pacific.

As the effects of the pandemic and containment measures hit OECD economies, millions of people have been unable to go to work, resulting in an exceptionally stark drop in activity and unprecedented job losses.

Up to 10 times fewer hours were worked in some countries, compared with the first few first months of the 2008 financial crisis.

While millions have been furloughed or moved onto reduced hours, millions of others have lost their jobs entirely, with little improvement in sight.

Unemployment will remain high into 2021

Unemployment is projected to reach nearly 10% in OECD countries by the end of 2020, up from 5.3% at year-end 2019, and to go as high as 12% should a second pandemic wave hit. A jobs recovery is not expected until after 2021.

Whether because of higher unemployment or people working fewer hours, the impact of the pandemic on jobs has not been felt to the same extent in all countries.

OECD