Youth employment

Find out more from

The world is facing a growing youth employment crisis. Latest ILO data indicate that of the world's estimated 191 million unemployed people in 2004, about half or nearly 86 million are aged between 15 and 24. The ILO's programme on youth employment operates through a global network of technical teams at its headquarters in Geneva and in more than 60 offices around the world. It provides assistance to countries in developing coherent and coordinated interventions on youth employment.

What's new

  • ILO and Germany sign two supplementary agreements
    01 December 2008 - The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have signed two supplementary agreements to promote the ILO’s Decent Work Country Programmes and the Global Labour University in South Africa.
  • YEN launches a grant scheme in the Mano River Union to promote youth employment
    01 December 2008 - On December 1, 2008, the Youth Employment Network (YEN) will launch a competitive grant scheme for youth led organizations in the Mano River Union (Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone). Applicants can apply for grants between USD 2’000 and 50’000.

Key resources

  • Global Employment Trends for Youth 2006 - [pdf 506 KB]
    The report emphasizes that today's youth face serious vulnerabilities in the world of work and warns that a lack of decent work, if experienced at an early age, may permanently compromise their future employment prospects. The report adds urgency to the UN call for development of strategies aimed at giving young people a chance to maximize their productive potential through decent employment. (Report)
  • Global Employment Trends for Youth 2004 - [pdf 802 KB]
    This report continues the ILO Global Employment Trends series to provide a valuable analysis of the current labour market trends of young people. It incorporates the most recent information available in order to shed light on the possible factors contributing to the increasing difficulties youth face today when trying to enter the labour force. (Report)
  • Youth Employment portal
    (Web page)
  • Resource guide on Youth Employment
    (Resource list)

Latest

^ top