The OECD Employment Outlook provides an annual assessment of key labour market developments and prospects in OECD member countries. Each edition also contains several chapters focusing on specific aspects of how labour markets function and the implications for policy in order to promote more and better jobs. The 2021 edition is devoted to navigating the COVID 19 crisis and recovery. Chapter 1 focusses on the labour market impact of the crisis and its consequences for vulnerable groups. Chapter 2 provides a first assessment of the role of job retention schemes during the crisis. Chapter 3 analyses how active labour market policies have responded to the challenges posed by the crisis. Chapter 4 assesses the extent and consequences of domestic outsourcing for the labour market. Finally, Chapter 5 focusses on trends in working time, including teleworking, and its regulations.The initial shock of the COVID 19 crisis was felt across large swathes of the economy, as fear of contagion and strict restrictions on social proximity severely dampened economic activity in OECD countries. As people and governments have learnt how to live alongside the virus, behaviours have adapted and restrictions have become looser and more targeted. This has enabled many to return to work. But the deeply sectoral nature of the crisis and differences in the sheltering offered by various types of jobs have left some to shoulder the bulk of the burden in terms of job losses and reduced working time. Those in low-paying occupations, often with fixed-term contracts, holding a low level of education, and youth have been particularly affected by the ravages of the crisis; hours worked by these groups have fallen disproportionately, and joblessness has accounted for a larger share of the adjustment, while other groups were better able to adjust through working time reductions and telework. Firms are also restructuring in ways that are accelerating pre existing megatrends, such as automation and digitalisation. All this will have implications for the strength and extent of recovery.