Global employment trends in post-pandemic times

Professor Geeta Nair, gives a seminar on Indian perspectives on employment trends in post-pandemic times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global employment trends, causing widespread job losses and transforming labour markets.  This study analyses the changes in employment patterns worldwide since the onset of the pandemic, identifying the most affected sectors and demographic groups, and assessing the long-term implications of these shifts on the global economy.  The research methodology involves analysing international labour market reports, national employment statistics, and surveys.

The findings reveal that the pandemic caused an estimated loss of 255 million full-time jobs globally in 2020, with sectors such as hospitality, sales, and personal services being hit the hardest. In contrast, high-skilled occupations in science, technology, and health saw job growth, indicating a shift towards more resilient job sectors.  The study is based on the Minor Research Project awarded by the HSNC University in 2023 to study the employment trends in India, particularly Mumbai being the financial capital.  The preliminary results from fieldwork and comparative analysis with secondary data demonstrate that the crisis has disproportionately affected women, young workers, and those in informal employment in the case of domestic workers, rickshaw drivers, and small businesses.

The study concludes that policymakers and employers must address these disparities and consider new approaches to employment, including potential changes to social welfare regimes and labour market policies, to navigate the post-pandemic landscape effectively to promote decent work and an inclusive society. 

Professor Geeta Nair is a Professor and Head of Department of Business Economics at H. R. College of Commerce & Economics for over 3 decades, and also Director of Research Initiatives, Chair of Board of Studies in Business Economics, HSNC University, and Member of Board of Studies in Business Economics at University of Mumbai. She is the Centre Head of Ph. D. Centre in Business Economics and has successfully guided doctoral students.

Geeta was awarded the S.I.R. Fulbright Fellowship for 4 months at NJCU in August 2022 to start a new course on the Indian Economy and enrich the existing Economics syllabi by covering the developing countries’ perspective.