Global Youth Unemployment Rises to 12.4% in 2025, ILO Reports

The post-pandemic recovery in global youth labor markets has stalled, with unemployment and disengagement rising as economic headwinds and technological change create new barriers to entry for young workers. According to a report released by the International Labour Organization on August 12, 2026, the global unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 reached 12.4% in 2025, up from 12.3% in 2023. This translates to approximately 67 million unemployed young people worldwide.

The ILO's Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026 report identifies slowing economic growth, diminished job creation, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change as key factors making the transition from school to decent work increasingly difficult. The report notes that the increase reverses improvements seen after the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects a deterioration in both the quantity and quality of jobs available to young workers.

Beyond unemployment, the number of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEET) also increased, reaching 20% in 2025 from 19.7% in 2023. This represents more than 257 million young people globally, an increase of nine million since 2023. The report...