Worried about youth employment

Fact Sheet: Youth employment


• In 2009, about 81million young people were unemployed, the most ever.

Across the globe, the economic crisis has had a dramatic impact on the challenges
facing young people seeking jobs. Between 2008 and 2009, the youth unemployment
rate has seen the largest annual increase on record, reversing the pre-crisis trend of
declining youth unemployment rates since 2002 and rising to 13 per cent in 2009.

• In 2008, an estimated 152 million young workers –or nearly 25 percent of the
world’s working poor– were living with their families on less than US$1.25 per
person per day.

Unemployment rates, however, reflect only the tip of the iceberg. Young people are
prone to work longer hours under informal, intermittent and insecure work arrangements
characterized by low productivity and earnings and reduced social protection. Young
workers are more exposed to poverty than other age groups.

• Youth unemployment rate rose from 11.9 percent to 13.0 percent between
2007 and 2009, an increase of 7.8 million.

Creating jobs for the millions of young women and men entering the labour market
every year is a critical component in the path towards wealthier economies, fairer
societies and stronger democracies. It is not only the quantity but also the quality of jobs
that matters. Decent Work is the best way young people can realize their aspirations,
improve their living conditions and actively participate in society.

• Young women have more difficulty than young men in finding work. The
female youth unemployment rate in 2009 stood at 13.2 per cent compared to
the male rate of 12.9 per cent

The best labour market entry path for young people remains a good basic education,
vocational training or higher education and initial work experience.The development of national action plans on youth employment that are
focused on these elements can guide countries to translate national commitment into
action.


For further reading:

• ILO Youth Employment Programme (YEP)

• Resource Guide on youth employment

• ILO Global Job Crisis Observatory. Online information resource, regular
updates. Section on youth employment.

• Youth Employment Network (YEN)