Worldwide job growth won't recover to prepandemic levels until 2023, according to a report by the U.N.'s International Labor Organization.
The World Employment and Social Outlook report for 2021 estimates at least 220 million people will be unemployed this year, with a slight improvement only predicted for next year.
"Employment growth will be insufficient to make up for the losses suffered until at least 2023," the report said.
Despite economies rebounding from pandemic lows and governments acting quickly to pass much-needed fiscal stimulus, the pandemic-induced job shortfall is expected to remain at 75 million in 2021 and fall to 23 million in 2022.
Last year, world labor income was $3.7 trillion, or 8.3%, lower than the prepandemic forecast - and the loss continued into the first half of 2021, with a $1.3 trillion, or 5.3% decrease.
Working-hour losses have remained persistently high this year owing to recurrent waves of COVID-19 infections.
Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Europe and Central Asia, have been the hardest hit, with estimated working hour losses of more than 8% in the first quarter of 2021 and 6% in the second quarter.
The labor organization said things would likely worsen before they improve - emphasizing the pandemic was exacerbating inequalities and inflicting long-term scarring on workers.
According to the report, the crisis has also affected many young people at a critical juncture in their lives, disrupting their transition from school or university to work.
Globally, youth employment fell 8.7% in 2020, compared to 3.7% for adults, with middle-income countries experiencing the greatest drop.
"We have to make a particular effort to provide particular spaces for young people. Because if we do not, I think the risk of a lost generation is a very serious risk and we must avoid that at all price," organization director-general Guy Ryder said.
