Youth employment

The world is facing a worsening youth employment crisis: young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults and almost 73 million youth worldwide are looking for work. The ILO has warned of a “scarred” generation of young workers facing a dangerous mix of high unemployment, increased inactivity and precarious work in developed countries, as well as persistently high working poverty in the developing world.

The ILO's programme on youth employment operates through a global network of technical teams at its headquarters in Geneva and in more than 60 offices around the world. It provides assistance to countries in developing coherent and coordinated interventions 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.

Key resources

Youth employment crisis: ILO call for action

In June 2012, the ILO adopted a Resolution calling for immediate, targeted and renewed action to tackle the youth employment crisis. The resolution provides a portfolio of tested measures in five areas: macro-economic policies, employability, labour market policies, youth entrepreneurship and rights.

Resource guide on Youth employment

Global Employment Trends for Youth - 2013

Report

A generation at risk

The ILO study on the continuing job crisis affecting young people in many parts of the world. It provides updated statistics on global and regional youth unemployment rates and presents ILO policy recommendations to curb the current trends.

Latest

Watch

African Union: Job creation key to achieve prosperity

17 June 2013

Addressing the 102nd International Labour Conference, African Union Commission's Chair, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has echoed African leaders' vision that job creation is among the most important factors to achieve growth and prosperity. Dr. Dlamini Zuma also highlighted that Africa is a continent of young people and called for more investment to promote employment and the provision of entrepreneurial skills for youth.
102nd International Labour Conference

Van Rompuy: Growth and jobs are the ultimate goal of all reforms

14 June 2013

Ahead of the European Council meeting, European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, addresses the International Labour Conference and says that the ILO has a key role to play in helping to address the challenges that Europe faces.
Watch

Early and long-term unemployment leave deep scars says EC President

14 June 2013

President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy highlighted the need to urgently tackle the youth unemployment crisis in his address to the ILO's 102nd International Labour Conference. He said the European Council has redirected considerable amounts of EU funds, which have directly benefited 800,000 young people in the eight most affected countries.
Listen

Van Rompuy says situation of youth in Europe "dramatic", "severe"

14 June 2013

The President of the European Council highlights the need to urgently tackle the youth unemployment crisis.
Asia-Pacific YouthNet Talk show

Youth employment in Afghanistan

04 June 2013

Armed conflicts destroy socioeconomic infrastructure, the means of production, natural and human resources, and vast numbers of jobs. When conflict ends, youth employment is critical to stability since young people have a valuable role in the peacebuilding process. In this show, Herve Berger of the ILO discusses the role of youth employment in Afghanistan, the barriers young Afghans face in gaining decent work, and how they can be supported.