This figure represents a reversal from previous trends, as global youth unemployment reached a two-decade low in 2023. In 2023, the ILO reported that youth unemployment had reached its lowest level in 15 years at 13%, but this trend reversed in 2025 with a rise to 12.4%.

The geographic distribution of these changes varied by country. Conversely, youth unemployment fell in 58 countries between 2023 and 2025. Nearly nine in 10 young workers aged 15 to 29 in low and lower-middle-income countries are employed informally.

The ILO identified slower global economic growth, geopolitical tensions, the effects of artificial intelligence on entry-level jobs, a lack of new highly-skilled positions and the experience paradox as factors contributing to the difficult youth labor market. The report estimates that 6.1 per cent of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 are in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes. Fields like science, health and engineering continue to grow worldwide.

Sukti Dasgupta, ILO Director of the Employment, Skills and Sustainable Enterprises Department, said that technological progress, including AI, must work for young people, not against them. The report recommends adopting a human-centred approach to AI governance, investing in quality education, strengthening employment services, expanding social protection and creating more decent job opportunities.

Gilbert F. Houngbo, ILO Director-General, emphasized the broader implications of these labor market conditions. He said that when young people are locked out of quality employment, countries lose talent, productivity and social cohesion. He added that creating decent jobs for young people is not just a social imperative, it is one of the smartest investments a country can make. A generation that cannot find decent work cannot build its future with confidence, Houngbo said.

Timeline

Global youth unemployment reached a two-decade low in 2023. By 2025, there were 257 million young people not in employment, education or training worldwide. Global youth unemployment for the 15 to 24 age bracket was 12.4 per cent in 2025.

Youth unemployment worsened or remained flat in most global subregions between 2023 and 2025. There were 67 million unemployed young people aged 15 to 24 worldwide in 2025. The global share of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) rose from 19.7 per cent in 2023 to 20 per cent in 2025. The youth unemployment rate in the Arab States was 26.2 per cent in 2025. Youth unemployment rose in 105 countries between 2023 and 2025.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that global youth unemployment climbed to 12.4 per cent in 2025, with around 257 million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). In 2025, the youth unemployment rate in North Africa was 22.6%, which is higher than the global average and reflects persistent challenges in job creation for young people in the region. In 2025, the youth unemployment rate in the Arab States was 26.2%, up from 28% in 2023, indicating a slight improvement but still among the highest globally. The global NEET rate increased from 19.7% in 2023 to 20.0% in 2025, with an estimated 257 million young people not in employment, education, or training globally in 2025. A study titled International Standard Classification of Education, ISCED 1997 was published in 2003. In 2023, the ILO reported that youth unemployment had reached its lowest level in 15 years at 13%, but this trend reversed in 2025 with a rise to 12.4%. Youth unemployment also remains persistently high, reaching 12.4 per cent in 2025, nearly four times the adult rate. In 2025, the ILO noted that nearly nine in 10 young workers in low and lower-middle-income countries are employed informally, showing the prevalence of precarious work among youth in developing regions.

How Sources Differ

Sources present differing figures regarding the number of young people not in education, employment or training. One source states that global youth unemployment climbed to 12.4 per cent in 2025, with around 257 million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). Another source reports the global NEET rate increased from 19.7% in 2023 to 20.0% in 2025, with an estimated 257 million young people not in employment, education, or training globally in 2025. A third source states there were 257 million young people not in employment, education or training worldwide in 2025.

Discrepancies also exist regarding regional unemployment rates and specific definitions. One source cites the youth unemployment rate in the Arab States as 26.2 per cent in 2025, while another notes the rate in North Africa was 22.6 per cent in 2025. Another source indicates the youth unemployment rate in North America increased from 8.3 per cent in 2023 to 9.8 per cent in 2025. One source specifies that global youth unemployment for the 15 to 24 age bracket was 12.4 per cent in 2025, while another provides the general figure without the age bracket specification in the same context.

Why It Matters

The International Labour Organization is a United Nations agency with a mandate to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. The organization has 187 member states, comprising 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is one of the first and oldest specialized agencies of the UN.

The report shows that youth unemployment remains persistently high, reaching 12.4 per cent in 2025, nearly four times the adult rate. The findings indicate the scale of disengagement, with millions of young people outside of education and employment systems. The recommendations focus on structural changes to education and labor markets to address these challenges.