Young female farmer portrait

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Youth employment

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.

65 million

The estimated total global number of unemployed youths in 2023

20.4%

The share of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) in 2023

2 times

Young women are 2 times more likely to be in NEET status than young men.

News and articles

Stepping-up: On the road to building a footwear empire
Fungai Zvikaramba in his shoe factory

BG4YE Project

Stepping-up: On the road to building a footwear empire

EU member states discuss the Youth Guarantee in the EU and the neighbourhood
Participants of the conference “The latest challenges in mobilizing youth labour supply in the EU and the neighbourhood – the Reinforced Youth Guarantee” 19 September 2024, Budapest, Hungary

Opportunities for youth

EU member states discuss the Youth Guarantee in the EU and the neighbourhood

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

Unveiled Visions: Decent work and social justice through my lens

Photo essays from Uganda

Unveiled Visions: Decent work and social justice through my lens

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

Projects

Youth for Future (Y4F): Youth Empowerment and Integration in Host Communities

Youth for Future (Y4F): Youth Empowerment and Integration in Host Communities

Achieving reduction of child labour in support of education: Programme to reduce the worst forms of child labour in agriculture sector in...

Child labour

Achieving reduction of child labour in support of education: Programme to reduce the worst forms of child labour in agriculture sector in...