The Value of Essential Work: World employment and social outlook 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has
made evident the extent to which
societies need key workers – in both
good times and bad – but also how
undervalued most key jobs are
At the end of March 2020, 80 per cent of the world’s population lived in countries
with required workplace closures. But among the hushed streets of cities and towns
throughout the world, key workers left the safety of their homes to go to work. These
workers produced, distributed and sold food, cleaned streets and buses to minimize
the spread of the pandemic, ensured public safety, transported essential goods and
workers, and cared for and healed the ill. These are the “key workers”.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made evident the extent to which societies need key
workers – in both good times and bad – but also how undervalued most key jobs
are, raising concerns about the sustainability of these essential activities, especially
given the likelihood of future shocks. This report calls for a revaluation of the work
of key workers and greater investment in key sectors in order to more fully reflect
their economic and social contributions. This is one of the most important public
policy lessons to be drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic, as every country has an
inherent interest in strengthening its resilience to major disruptions and crises
irrespective of their nature