As the global economy continues to grapple with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing effects of climate change, experts are sounding the alarm on a looming crisis: mass underemployment. With automation, artificial intelligence, and shifting workforce demographics poised to disrupt traditional employment patterns, the question on everyone's mind is no longer if this phenomenon will occur, but rather whether governments and policymakers are prepared to address it. As the world hurtles towards a future where millions of workers may find themselves in precarious or non-traditional employment arrangements, the need for a comprehensive policy framework has never been more pressing. Will policymakers be able to adapt and create a safety net for those left behind, or will mass underemployment become a devastating reality?
The question isn’t whether mass underemployment arrives but whether we have a policy framework ready when it does
