Youth at Work in G20 countries: Progress and policy action in 2024

Key findings

Between 2014 and 2024, the share of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training (NEET) across G20 economies (excluding the African Union, the European Union (EU), China and Spain) has decreased from an average of 20 per cent to 17.6 per cent. Despite this overall positive development, significant variations persist between advanced and emerging G20 economies.

Progress towards the Antalya Goal – an ambitious target set by G20 leaders in 2015 aiming to reduce the NEET rate by 15 per cent by 2025 – has been uneven. About half of the G20 economies with available data are on track to meet this target by 2024. Continued progress towards this goal demands targeted interventions addressing the structural barriers to labour market entry faced by young people. Building on the Antalya Goal, and to make further progress, economies are considering introducing the G20’s new Nelson Mandela Bay Target, which aims to reduce NEET rates among young people aged 15 to 29 by a further 5 per cent by 2030 (baseline 2024). Addressing persistent gender inequalities, particularly in emerging economies where societal norms and caregiving responsibilities heavily influence young women's labour market participation, remains critical for inclusive and sustainable development.

Ultimately, continued improvements in youth employment outcomes in G20 economies will require continued and strengthened integrated policy approaches as well as support systems designed to address specific vulnerabilities, including disparities and inactivity between women and men. Future policy initiatives must increasingly focus on:

• equipping young people with relevant skills;
• promoting job quality in line with international labour standards; and
• creating inclusive labour market conditions resilient to ongoing economic challenges.