Attempts to limit the spread of COVID-19 have taken a considerable toll on the global economy. Our study provides an overview of the labor market impacts of the pandemic among individuals in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda. The analysis is based on the data from the first wave of World Bank-supported phone surveys, conducted during the period of May-June 2020. Our headline findings are as follows: First, the impact on the labor market has been heterogenous across countries and is related to the stringency and compliance with government’s containment policies. In Nigeria 38% reported having stopped working due to COVID-19, while in Malawi this number is 6%. Second in all four countries, urban jobs were lost in higher proportion than in rural areas. Third, the commerce and services sectors were most affected throughout the four countries. Fourth, households have experienced substantial economic shocks following the pandemic. Increases in the price of major food items consumed, closure of nonfarm businesses, increases in the price of farming/business inputs, and decrease in output prices were most widely experienced. Fifth, to cope with the considerable economic shocks, households not only draw down their savings but also reduce food consumption. Sixth, after initial checks, phone surveys appear to provide a valid proxy for understanding labor market and income dynamics in these four countries during the pandemic. Lastly, phone surveys could be used more to quickly learn about the immediate reach of government policies to address the labor market impacts of COVID-19. The webinar will discuss these findings as well as upcoming work to continue monitoring the crisis in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, and Uganda.
