Global Labour Resilience Index©: Responding to a crisis

As part of the GLRI 2021 series Whiteshield has produced an analysis of the framework governments should use to enhance resilience during times of crisis. This has been produced in collaboration with the International Labour Organization.

The shock of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and jobs has led many governments to revisit their labour market resilience strategies. Building labour market resilience in the context of COVID-19 requires a balanced policy response between short-term actions to defend labour markets from the impact of the crisis, medium-term actions to support sustainable recovery and longer-term actions to transform labour markets and enhance future resilience.

The three-phase approach to resilience must be followed during a crisis

There are several different policies that governments can (and should) use during a crisis to enable their economy and labour market to weather the storm. Drawing on the most influential global responses, this report seeks to set out specific policy responses for each framework stage: sustaining, recovering, and transforming labour markets.

Crisis response stages

The policy priority should vary based on the stage of the crisis

​Initially (during the sustain phase), the policy must minimise the damage and stabilise the labour market.

In the following stages, three overriding themes should guide the recovery and transformation initiatives for more inclusive and sustainable labour markets after the crisis

• Digitalisation and the future of jobs
• Inclusiveness and job quality
• Sustainability and green transitions

Policymakers must focus on recovering labour markets by adapting existing policies and learning from the lessons of other countries where applicable.

Transforming the labour market means aligning with future trends and changing the approach to resilience.