European Labor Markets and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Fallout and the Path Ahead

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by far the largest shock to European economies since World War II. Yet, astonishingly, the EU unemployment rate had already declined to its pre-crisis level by 2021Q3, and in some countries the labor force participation rate is at a record high. This paper docum...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ando, Sakai
Other Authors: Balakrishnan, Ravi, Gruss, Bertrand, Hallaert, Jean-Jacques
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C. International Monetary Fund 2022
Series:Departmental Papers
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: International Monetary Fund - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by far the largest shock to European economies since World War II. Yet, astonishingly, the EU unemployment rate had already declined to its pre-crisis level by 2021Q3, and in some countries the labor force participation rate is at a record high. This paper documents that the widespread use of job retention schemes has played an essential role in mitigating the pandemic’s impact on labor markets and thereby facilitating the restart of European economies after the initial lockdowns
Physical Description:96 pages
ISBN:9798400200960