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Young female farmer portrait
Promoting decent jobs for youth everywhere © Getty Images

The Global Youth Employment Challenges

Even in the best of times, young people faced a tough situation in the labour market. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic they were around three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. The crisis now threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities within and between countries.

73 million

The estimated total global number of unemployed youths in 2022

23.3%

The share of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) in 2020

1.5 times

young men are almost 1.5 times more likely than young women to be employed.

News and articles

Forging Hope: Muzaifa's Journey from Sugarcane Fields to Apprenticeship
Muzaifa showcasing his talents

Apprenticeship

Forging Hope: Muzaifa's Journey from Sugarcane Fields to Apprenticeship

ILO and Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea sign agreement to promote inclusive and sustainable youth employment
ILO Director of the Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department, Sangheon Lee, and the Director General of Labor Bureau, Chul-Wan Kum of the Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea shaking hands

Knowledge sharing on youth employment

ILO and Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea sign agreement to promote inclusive and sustainable youth employment

Key Initiatives

The ILO’s Youth Employment Action Plan (YEAP) 2020-30
Youth solidarity representation_2023

The ILO’s Youth Employment Action Plan (YEAP) 2020-30

The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth
Young female portrait

The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth

The YouthForesight Knowledge Facility: Collective Knowledge that Works for Youth
Card showing the joint knowledge facility platform and slogan

The YouthForesight Knowledge Facility: Collective Knowledge that Works for Youth

The Green Jobs for Youth Pact
Girl with a hat standing in a field with green crops

The Green Jobs for Youth Pact

Publications

Elevating the potential of rural youth: Paths to Decent Jobs and Sustainable Futures

ILO brief

Elevating the potential of rural youth: Paths to Decent Jobs and Sustainable Futures

Active Labour Market Programs Improve Employment and Earnings of Young People

Active Labour Market Programs Improve Employment and Earnings of Young People

Rapid assessment of digital skills gaps and the feasibility of microwork employment opportunities in Uganda

Rapid assessment of digital skills gaps and the feasibility of microwork employment opportunities in Uganda

Projects

Inclusive labour markets for job creation in Ukraine

Inclusive labour markets for job creation in Ukraine

JEUN’ESS: Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy and Creation of Decent Jobs for Tunisian Youth

JEUN’ESS: Promotion of Social and Solidarity Economy and Creation of Decent Jobs for Tunisian Youth