Project overview
Using longitudinal data from more than 4,000 firms and 1,700 workers, complemented by high-frequency phone surveys, the study investigated how businesses and employees adapted to the unprecedented disruptions caused by the pandemic across sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail, and personal services.
The research analysed firm resilience, employment losses, labour mobility, and business survival while identifying the factors that enabled enterprises and workers to withstand economic shocks. By comparing outcomes before and during the pandemic, the study generated timely evidence on enterprise recovery, workforce adaptation, and the effectiveness of business support and labour market interventions.
Research impact
The project provides important evidence on how firms and workers respond to large-scale economic shocks, informing policies aimed at enterprise recovery, employment creation, and labour market resilience. Its findings continue to support governments and development partners in designing evidence-based strategies that strengthen economic recovery and preparedness for future crises.
