Unemployment is seen as the biggest worry over the next 10 years for business executives around the world, closely followed by concern about the spread of infectious diseases, according to a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Unemployment rates have rocketed due to lockdowns and other restrictions to combat the pandemic, with fears that the worst has yet to come in some countries.

"The employment disruptions caused by the pandemic, rising automation and the transition to greener economies are fundamentally changing labor markets," said WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi.

"As we emerge from the crisis, leaders have a remarkable opportunity to create new jobs, support living wages, and reimagine social safety nets to adequately meet the challenges in the labor markets of tomorrow."

The Regional Risks for Doing Business survey, which surveyed 12,012 business leaders from 127 countries, is part of the WEF's global competitiveness report, to be published next month.

The study asked respondents about their views of 30 risks in total. Worries about the spread of infectious diseases have also come to the fore, rising 28 places from last year's survey.

Fiscal crises, cyber attacks and profound social instability were the third, fourth and fifth biggest risks, the survey showed. But climate change risks are also rising up the agenda, WEF said, while worries about militant attacks fell.

The survey has been released ahead of the WEF's first Jobs Reset summit later this month. It was published by WEF together with Marsh & McLennan, SK Group and Zurich Insurance.