Excess potential years of working life lost in six countries from Latin America and Europe in 2020 and 2021

Abstract

Objective This descriptive study aimed to measure the excess all-cause mortality potential years of working life lost (PYWLL) in the working-age population of six Ibero-American countries in 2020 and 2021. Methods This study was based on all-cause deaths for the age group 15–69 years for men and women in six countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, México, Peru, Portugal and Spain. The expected PYWLL was the average value determined from the previous 5 years (2015–2019). To estimate the excess of PYWLL, the expected PYWLL was subtracted from the observed PYWLL values for 2020 and 2021, separately. Results In the four Latin American countries, the excess PYWLL per death was approximately double (between 12 and 16 years) that of the two European countries (between 3 and 9 years). Conclusions The loss of working-age individuals will probably have a profound social and economic recovery impact, affecting families and communities. The informal employment and labour market structures may be contributing to the adverse effects of the pandemic in the region. Investing in universal, comprehensive and sustainable health and social protection systems in the Latin American countries is crucial to build resilience against current and future crises.