Report V: The youth employment crisis: Time for action

Report submitted to the delegates of the 101st International Labour Labour Conference for general discussion.

Conference paper | 13 March 2012
Chapter 1 reviews the characteristics of the youth employment crisis in its quantitative and qualitative dimensions across different regions and countries, and discusses new emerging challenges, such as educated unemployment and the increasing “detachment” of youth from labour markets.

Chapter 2 analyses the patterns of interventions and policies implemented by countries around the world since the last general discussion. It highlights the key lessons that can be drawn from the experience of, and the responses to, the global financial crisis. It covers a broad range of the policy areas included in the conclusions of the Conference’s 2005 discussion, ranging from macroeconomic considerations to labour market policies and programmes, entrepreneurship development, rights and labour markets institutions, social protection and other factors affecting the demand and supply and the quantity and the quality of employment. This integrated analysis across the Decent Work Agenda applies the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, 2008, principle of integrated, inseparable and mutually supportive objectives. It highlights the significance of policy coherence and coordination at national and global levels to tackle the youth employment crisis. It also points to a major deficiency – that of limited voice and participation by youth themselves in forging their present and future.

Chapter 3 briefly reviews the International Labour Office’s strategy of support to constituents, developed since 2005, and the main global and regional partnerships focusing on youth employment.

Chapter 4 presents the conclusions emerging from this review and analysis,
and points to some possible ways forward.