More than two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the employment of young people and less qualified people continues to bear the stigma of the health crisis, the OECD points out in a study published this Friday.
The overall result remains positive as, at the beginning of 2022, the employment rate of 15-24 year olds was 0.1 point above the level of the first quarter of 2019, the last year before the health crisis. Among those aged 25 to 54, the employment rate was on average one point higher than its level in the first quarter of 2019, and was even higher by 3 points among older workers (55 to 64 years).
More generally, the OECD also notes that the labor market has been resilient after the pandemic. “The unemployment rate in OECD countries has gradually fallen from its peak in April 2020 (8.8%) and stabilized in the first months of 2022,” indicates the Paris-based institution.
“In July 2022 it stood at 4.9%, slightly below the 5.3% recorded in December 2019.” In other good news, between 2019 and 2022, the gap between the employment rate of men and women has narrowed in 23 of the 34 countries covered by the report.
Large disparities between countries and profiles
But these trends hide big differences between states. Of the 34 countries analyzed in the OECD report, young Slovaks, Icelanders and Portuguese are the furthest from their 2019 employment rate, while Norwegians and Irish participate significantly more in the labor market than three years ago .
The study also highlights disparities between population groups. “While some of the unequal impact of the crisis on workers has been absorbed, young people and workers without a university education” continue to be penalized more than other categories of employees in terms of employment.
Employment in France, below the OECD average
“In France, thanks to exceptional government measures aimed at young people (apprenticeship reform and support for the most vulnerable), their situation in the labor market has improved significantly, with an increase of 4 percentage points in their employment rate”, details the organization in the dedicated “country sheet”.
Least qualified most affected
“A certain degree of targeting of apprenticeship programs may be necessary”, which “mainly” benefit the most qualified young people, “might be necessary”, judges the OECD, before advocating “a review and strengthening of support for vocational secondary schools.
In addition to age, the level of training also seems to be decisive for the ability of workers to find work after the health crisis. Those who have not attended university see their employment rate fall between 0.2 and 0.3 points compared to 2019, while it increases 0.4 points among those who have had an academic education.
Source: BFM TV
