Global youth unemployment

Global youth unemployment fell to 13% in 2023, the lowest in 15 years, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), with expectations to decrease further to 12.8% through 2025. The improvement is attributed to resilient post-COVID economic growth and increased demand for youth labor, resulting in 64.9 million unemployed individuals aged 15-24. However, the recovery is uneven, particularly in the Arab States, East Asia, and Southeast Asia/Pacific, where youth unemployment rates remain higher than in 2019. The ILO report emphasizes gender disparities, noting that unemployment rates for young women (12.9%) and young men (13%) have nearly converged, contrasting with pre-pandemic trends. Additionally, over half of young workers are in informal employment, highlighting a lack of decent job opportunities. The report underscores the urgent need for equitable access to education and employment, especially for marginalized youth populations.