Respond to the needs of the newly unemployed while continuing to engage with people who are disadvantaged within the labour market: this is the major challenge facing employment ministers today.
Unemployment is rising sharply in many countries, and with pressure growing on social assistance bodies, employment services and broader public finances, there are difficult questions for governments to answer in terms of where to invest scarce resources and how to ensure value for money. Renewed commitment to employment support underpinned by improved analysis of how this can be most effectively delivered must be central to the discussion.
Here are some key elements to help ministers build an effective response to the crisis.
First, maintain focus on the long-term goal of sustainable employment for all.
It is critical to learn the lessons of previous downturns. Mitigating the current rise in unemployment by increasing rates of early retirement or take-up of disability or health benefits will lead to dysfunctions in the labour market over the long term. With the workforce ageing and the trend towards tightening labour markets, it is important to invest in keeping older people and those with health conditions engaged with the labour market.
See full Article.
Posts
