International Labour Organization reports rise in global youth unemployment

The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that global youth unemployment rose to 12.4 percent in 2025, affecting approximately 67 million individuals aged 15 to 24. Additionally, the percentage of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET) increased slightly to 20 percent, representing over 257 million people worldwide.

The ILO attributes these trends to weak economic growth and a slowdown in job creation. In advanced economies, North America saw youth unemployment rise from 8.3 percent in 2023 to 9.8 percent in 2025, while Europe maintained a high rate of 15 percent. In developing nations, the report warns that lower unemployment rates often mask precarious conditions, as many young people are forced into informal or unstable employment. In low- and lower-middle-income countries, nine out of ten working youth aged 15 to 29 work in the informal sector, lacking stable income and social protections.