WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2023

BOX 3.2 The pandemic has driven faster growth for social jobs

Social jobs – those in Care, Education and Healthcare – play a vital role in societal well-being,

enabling social mobility, securing human capital and strengthening societal resilience. As the world

faces a growing and ageing global population, the importance of social jobs will no doubt increase.

Research conducted by Indeed for this report finds that job postings have grown significantly for

both social and other jobs since the pandemic. By comparing the relative growth of social and other

jobs we can understand changes in the make-up of jobs.

Figure B3.2 shows the relative growth of the three segments of social jobs (Care, Education and

Healthcare) compared to all other jobs. For 15 of the 22 countries analysed, social jobs have grown

faster than other jobs. This is predominantly driven by Healthcare and Care jobs, which have grown

faster than other jobs in 16 of the 22 countries – reflecting the critical importance of these jobs

during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education jobs, meanwhile, have grown faster than other jobs in

12 of 20 countries.

Additional data reveals that France, Ireland and Belgium show particularly strong social-job growth

relative to other countries, while Brazil, United Arab Emirates and India are among the seven

countries where job growth was slower for social jobs than non-social jobs.

Positive Negative

France

BelgiumIreland

Australia

GermanyItaly

Switzerland

AustriaSpain

New Zealand

United States of AmericaPoland

United Kingdom

NetherlandsSingapore

CanadaJapan

SwedenMexico

United Arab EmiratesIndia

Brazil

-100 -50 0

Difference (%)

+100

Care Education Health

+50 -100 -50 0 +50 +100 -100 -50 0 +50 +100

Difference (%) Difference (%)

FIGURE B3.2 Posting rates for social jobs relative to before the pandemic

Source
Indeed.
Note
The two time periods are 1 January 2020 to 28 February 2020 – the World Health Organization categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020 – and 1 January 2022 to 10 February
2023.

Growth in the rate of social-job postings on Indeed minus growth in other job postings on the platform, relative to before the pandemic

In collaboration with Indeed

Future of Jobs Report 2023 36