Nordic Lessons for an Inclusive Recovery? Responses to the Impact of COVID-19 on the Labour Market
This report examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nordic labour markets and the associated policy responses undertaken in the areas of unemployment benefits, job retention schemes, active labour market policies and skill development policies. The report discusses the details of these policy measures across Nordic countries and draws out the main lessons learned from their response to the crisis. Finally, the report provides a set of key recommendations in each policy area to enable Nordic countries to build more inclusive and resilient labour markets in the post-pandemic period.
Supporting jobs and incomes: job retention schemes and unemployment benefits during the COVID‑19 crisis
Job retention schemes and unemployment benefits have been the key policies used in the Nordic countries and across the OECD more broadly to enhance labour market resilience and contain the increase in inequality during the COVID‑19 crisis. By supporting workers’ jobs and incomes, the schemes have preserved productive capacity and supported aggregate demand, laying the foundations for a strong recovery. This chapter offers a comparative overview of the structure of unemployment benefit systems and job retention schemes in Nordic countries and how they were adjusted to deal with the specific challenges of the COVID‑19 crisis.
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