O c t o b e r 2 The Future of Jobs

Fiscal stimulus as a % of GDP (%)
United States
Japan
Germany
Australia
Brazil
United Kingdom
Canada
South Africa
China
Italy
Korea
Argentina
France
Indonesia
Saudi Arabia
Russia
India
Mexico
Turkey
2020 value
Decreased compared to 2009
Increased compared to 2009
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14

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The Future of Jobs
42
Social protection measures introduced by governments, 
by type of instrument and function
F I G U R E 3 3
Source
International Labour Organization (ILO) Social Protection 
Monitor, July 2020.
Note
The values represent the distribution of 1,218 measures 
introduced across 203 countries.
A. Function
B. Instrument
0
5
10
15
20
Introducing benefits for poor or vulnerable populations
Introducing benefits for workers or their dependants
Introducing subsidies to, deferring or reducing the cost of necessities
Increasing benefit level
Introducing subsidies to wages
Extending coverage of existing benefits
Deferring, reducing or waiving special contribution
Improving delivery mechanisms and capacity
Increasing resources or budgetary allocation
Relaxing or suspending elegibility criteria or conditionality
Share of in-country measures (%)
3.9
5.4
5.6
5.7
6.7
7.2
7.9
9.4
14.7
14.9
Another set of key policies has been focused on 
preserving the retention of staff by businesses 
through wage compensation schemes as well as 
tax or payment deferrals. Figure 35 presents the 
unprecedented use of job-retention schemes across 
several countries—notably New Zealand, France, 
Switzerland and the United Kingdom—affecting 
close to 60 million workers across OECD countries.
45 
While these measures have been broadly welcomed 
and have been effective at buffering unemployment, 
such schemes obscure the possible true impact of 
COVID-19 on the labour market. It is only as wage 
support and replacement mechanisms begin to 
expire that some of the damage to the labour market 
will be revealed. 
While these temporary measures provide a lifeline to 
workers during this unprecedented crisis and ahead 
of a future recovery, the need for an urgent response 
should be transformed into an impulse to enhance 
permanent social protection mechanisms. New data 
from the OECD shows the projected employment 
growth of a number of economies in 2019–2020 
if countries experience a potential second wave of 
COVID-19 infections. Figure 36 plots that possible 
new reality against the Social Resilience pillar of 
the World Economic Forum’s Global Social Mobility 
Index. The pillar score summarizes in one measure 
the level of social protection available in an economy 
alongside the presence of inclusive institutions. 
Special allowance or grant 
Income and job protection
Several functions
Unemployment leave
Health and healthcare
Housing and access to basic services 
Food and nutrition
Children and families 
Pension 
Sick leave
Access to education
Maternity and parental leave
Employment injury compensation