A recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report noted that nearly half a billion people -- one in six of the world's working population -- did not have enough work, were looking for but unable to find work, or had given up looking for work. Women and youth were over-represented in this group. Since then, due to COVID-19, the numbers of those who are unemployed and underutilized have gone up dramatically across the globe. ILO predicts that in the second quarter of 2020, working hours equivalent to 400 million full-time workers will be wiped out in response to the pandemic. ILO also notes that 'Worldwide, two billion people work in the informal sector (mostly in emerging and developing economies) and are particularly at risk.' Governments also face rapid upskilling challenges, for example, keeping health workers up-to-date with the evolving understanding of COVID-19, and large numbers of migrant workers without work. At the same time, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions and community groups offering vocational programmes have closed to slow down the spread of the virus. Many businesses have closed, or, if open, are prioritising survival ahead of workplace training. As a result, there is increasing pressure on governments, educational institutions, workplaces, and community groups to adopt distance and online learning to ensure the continuity and upscaling of skills development while keeping communities safe. This publication shares examples and insights that can assist TVET officials and leaders to respond to immediate challenges and to rethink traditional TVET models to be able to reduce costs, increase flexibility and to prepare for a more resilient future.