Global youth unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization. The rate represents about 67 million unemployed people aged 15 to 24 worldwide. The Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026 report says the improvement seen after the pandemic has reversed and that entering the labour market has become more difficult again.
The ILO comparison covers the period from 2023 to 2025. Youth unemployment stood at 12.3% in 2023. Although the increase in the headline rate appears small, the agency links it to deterioration in both the quantity and quality of jobs. Youth unemployment increased in eight of the world’s 11 subregions during the two-year period.
More than 257 million young people are outside work and education
The report also examines young people who are not in employment, education or training, a group commonly described as NEET. Their share edged up to 20%, representing more than 257 million people. Because this measure includes people who may not be actively seeking work or able to participate in the labour force, it provides a broader picture than unemployment alone.
Regional differences are substantial. Youth unemployment reached 26.2% in the Arab States and 22.6% in Northern Africa. In North America, the rate increased from 8.3% in 2023 to 9.8% in 2025. The combined rate for Northern, Southern and Western Europe was 15%. The ILO says deterioration occurred across countries in different income groups.
Traditional entry-level occupations are shrinking
The ILO highlights a decline in middle-skilled occupations such as clerical, administrative, sales and manufacturing roles. These jobs have traditionally provided entry points for young people leaving secondary school or university. Fewer positions can create longer queues for the same opportunities and delay the acquisition of early work experience.
At the same time, employment continues to expand in many countries in high-skilled fields including science, engineering, healthcare and information technology. This divergence increases the importance of matching education and training with changing labour demand. The findings point to varied conditions by region, income level and skills structure rather than one uniform global experience.
The AI estimate is a scenario, not a confirmed loss
The ILO estimates that 6.1% of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 are in occupations most exposed to AI-related change. Its figure of 5.6 million potentially affected workers is based on a scenario in which 10% of those jobs disappear entirely. It is not a count of jobs already lost and should not be presented as a certain forecast.
The agency says the long-term employment impact of artificial intelligence remains uncertain, while warning that the risks should not be underestimated. In low- and lower-middle-income countries, nearly nine in 10 young workers remain in informal employment without adequate labour and social protections. The report therefore places job quality, social protection and skills transitions alongside the need to create more positions.
The latest figures show why a stable overall employment picture can still conceal pressure on younger workers. Policies designed for youth employment need to consider both access to a first job and the security of that work. The report’s evidence does not support a single solution, but it identifies education, labour-market entry routes and protection in informal work as connected challenges.
