Employment

The long reign of Coronavirus as our survey’s top global concern comes to an end in October 2021. It falls to third place in our issues ranking – behind poverty & social inequality and unemployment.

Paulien Schieven started as Chief Client Officer at Ipsos in the Netherlands on 1 May.

Survey for the World Economic Forum explores how much access to employment, education, housing, and social services is influenced by ethnicity and national origin across 27 countries

Almost two-thirds (64%) of the public across 27 countries say things in their country are heading in the wrong direction. Coronavirus remains the number one concern in our global survey – a place it has occupied for almost a year.

The pandemic has taken an emotional toll on employees globally, with 80 percent of those employed reporting they have faced challenges as a result of the pandemic. These stresses include personal circumstances such as family pressures, feeling lonely and isolated, and employer-related issues such as job security.

One in two (50%) around the world say that Coronavirus is one of the top issues facing their country today. Many of the 27 countries surveyed show significant month-on-month increases in reported concern.

Global concern about Coronavirus is once more on the increase. We approach the end of the year with almost two-thirds across 27 nations saying that things in their country are on the wrong track.

More than 6 in 10 globally say things in their country are on the wrong track as Coronavirus continues to be the world’s greatest worry.

Around the world, 79% of people believe that investment in infrastructure will create new jobs and boost their countries’ economies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic according to a recent survey.