Global Youth Unemployment Rate Rose Last Year, UN Agency Reports

The global youth unemployment rate rose last year, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The rate increased from 12.3 percent in 2024 to 12.4 percent, which represents 67 million unemployed people between the ages of 15 and 24. The ILO's Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026 report indicates that the recovery in youth labor markets following the Covid 19 pandemic has stalled. Some of the steepest increases in unemployment were observed in high income countries, including northern America and northern, southern, and western Europe. The Arab states and northern Africa remain the sub regions with the highest rates, at 26.2 percent and 22.6 percent respectively.

The report attributes the difficult transition from school to work to slowing global economic growth, diminished job creation, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change. Specifically, the ILO noted a decrease in traditional entry level roles such as manufacturing, sales, and administrative positions. While the agency stated it is too soon to establish a direct causal link between artificial intelligence and rising unemployment, officials noted a real coincidence between the two. Young people have expressed increasing fear that AI and other technological disruptions will replace their jobs and block income stability.

Additionally, the share of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET) rose slightly to 20 percent, affecting over 257 million people. The ILO expects the youth unemployment rate to flatline at 12.3 percent in 2026 and 2027. ILO chief Gilbert Houngbo stated that locking young people out of quality employment leads to losses in talent, productivity, and social cohesion.