Launch of the OECD report Job Creation and Local Economic Development 2020: Rebuilding Better

 Monday 23 November, 2020 | 14:00 – 15:30 CET (Paris time) via Zoom

What's the issue?

COVID-19 has hit our economies and societies like a tsunami. The effects on jobs and workers dwarfs those of the 2008 global financial crisis. During the strictest lockdown periods, almost all communities were dealing with large parts of the economy being virtually frozen. Since this first phase, the challenges have become more differentiated across places. Large cities host both substantial shares of high-skilled workers with relatively secure jobs and teleworking options, but also many low-skilled workers in face-to-face service positions that remain at risk. Tourism-intensive local communities are facing unprecedented drops in visitors. Many manufacturing regions continue to struggle with drops in global trade and disruptions to supply chains. COVID-19 may also accelerate other ongoing labour market transitions, including digitalisation and the automation of jobs, and the green transition. Other trends could be slowed down as global supply chains are reconfigured and teleworking opens up more options for geographic mobility.

The 2020 edition of Job Creation and Local Economic Development provides new local data on the risks of COVID-19-related job losses, as well as automation and related polarisation of jobs. It considers how local employment services and training providers will need to quickly upgrade capacities and adapt to meet the increased demand for job placement and skills upgrading, particularly for the most disadvantaged workers. It also considers how the hardest hit local firms (SMEs and the self-employed) and sectors (tourism, culture, hospitality) may also need specialised supports. Finally, it provides guidance to both national and local actors on how “rebuilding better” in local communities will require rethinking local development strategies, including taking advantage of the changing geography of jobs due to remote working, and better leveraging local assets, such as the social economy.

Webinar Highlights & Replay

Click here  to view the Job Creation and Local Economic Development 2020: Rebuilding Better PowerPoint presentation, delivered by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui (Director | OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities)

Access the agenda

Contact

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