Youth employment

Youth Employment Programme

Of the world's estimated 207 million unemployed people in 2009, nearly 40 per cent – about 81 million – were between 15 and 24 years of age. In many countries, this grim unemployment picture is further aggravated by the large number of youth engaged in poor quality and low paid jobs, often in the informal economy. Many youth are poor or underemployed: some 152 million working poor youth, or 28 per cent of all young workers in the world, live on less than the equivalent of US$1.25 per day.

Through a global network of employment specialists, the ILO Programme on Youth Employment (YEP) provides assistance to countries in developing consistent and coordinated policies and programmes on youth employment. This integrated approach combines macro-economic policies and targeted measures which address labour demand and supply, as well as the quantity and quality of employment.

What's new

United Nations World Youth Report 2012
February 2012
The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) published the latest World Youth Report online: “Youth Employment: Youth Perspectives on the Pursuit of Decent Work in Changing Times”, with input gathered electronically from young people around the world.
UN World Youth Report Summary
February 2012
Youth Employment: Youth Perspectives on the pursuit of Decent Work in changing times
Key facts and selected quotes from worldwide youth contributors to the UN World Youth Report
February 2012
Somavia puts the accent on youth employment in Davos
January 2012
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia has called for a new policy paradigm to promote inclusive job-rich growth for the almost 75 million unemployed youth aged 15-24 worldwide.
"How Youth Drive Change" - UNESCO Youth Forum 2011
October 2011
The ILO participated to the 7th UNESCO Youth Forum which took place from 17 to 20 October 2011, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris under the theme “How youth drive change”.
Giving youth a better start: A policy note for the G20 Meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers, Paris, 26–27 September 2011
September 2011
Prepared by the OECD and the ILO in collaboration.
G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Conclusions - Paris, 26-27 September 2011
September 2011
Conclusions of the G20 Meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers, Paris, 26–27 September 2011.
ILO at the High-Level Meeting on Youth
5 August 2011
The ILO participated in the UN High-Level Meeting, at which member States were urged to increase investments in young people, especially in the area of youth employment.
Upgrading informal apprenticeship
29 June 2011

Youth employment