The 2021 edition of the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, its seventy-third issue, consists of three parts. Part I outlines the region’s economic performance in 2020 and analyses trends in the early months of 2021, as well as the outlook for growth for 2021 and 2022. It examines the external and domestic factors that have influenced the region’s economic performance in 2020, trends for 2021, and how these factors will affect economic growth in the coming years. Part II of this edition analyses the impact of the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on the region’s labour markets, with a comparison of historical trends, and particular emphasis placed on the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on female and youth employment. It also presents the outlook for regional labour markets amid profound technological transformations, highlighting the policy challenges arising therefrom, and examining the risks and opportunities related to the introduction of new technologies. It also looks at the challenges and characteristics of digital platform work and teleworking. Lastly, it gives an overview of the labour policies implemented since the start of the crisis and identifies the main policy challenges for the region if it is to achieve a transformative recovery with decent work. Part III of this publication may be accessed on the website of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (www.eclac.org). It contains the notes relating to the economic performance of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020 and the first half of 2021, together with their respective statistical annexes. The cut-off date for updating the statistical information in this publication was 30 July 2021.