The concepts of labour insertion, dual training and labour rights are central to the process of closing inequality gaps among the adult population. The same is true of the new concepts associated with the increasing demand for technical skills in the labor market in the context of the gig economy and other new forms of employment.

The adult population is projected to climb to 44.7% of the region by 2030. That should prove positive for people’s socio-economic context, as the adult population is capable of generating income greater than the population that is economically dependent upon them. However, there is no guarantee such positive elements will endure, as they hinge upon the ability of economies to generate productive and decent employment.

The rights to just and favourable working conditions and social security are guaranteed in all of the main international conventions, agreements and compacts. These extend, for example, to rights to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing and housing, all of which are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

In order to ensure access to decent and sustainable employment with secure and adequate income, steps must be taken to avoid informality and provide certainty in the event of economic risk or natural and health disasters. This could be achieved by strengthening labor laws and regulations, expanding social security access and achieving better wages.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of Latin America and the Caribbean, including the adult population, much of which had to adapt to new forms of teleworking or adjust to other new forms of employment in the world of work. Moreover, it is estimated that close to 30 million jobs were lost during 2020.