Global employment trends for youth 2015: scaling up investments in decent jobs for youth

This report is part of a series that incorporates the most recent labour market information available to describe the youth labour market situation around the world. It provides an update on key youth labour market indicators and trends, focusing both on the continuing labour market instability and on structural issues in youth labour markets. This current report shows that the number of youth unemployed in the world has declined from its crisis peak but the global youth unemployment rate remains at a stubborn 13 per cent. Recovery from the Great Recession is not universal; in developed economies, the outlook for youth entering the labour market in 2015 is more positive than those entering over the previous five years, yet the previous cohort of entrants continue to feel the costs of long-term unemployment and temporary jobs. Meanwhile, youth in developing countries are still plagued by conditions of vulnerable employment and working poverty. At the global level, as much as two-fifths of the youth labour force remain either unemployed or working yet living in conditions of poverty. Drawing on results of the school-to-work transition surveys undertaken as part of the Work4Youth partnership, the report highlights the underutilization of young labour engaged in irregular work and skills mismatch. It also explores the concept of non-standard employment according to the context of developed or developing economies. The report offers insight on 'what works' for youth employment and on emerging practices in policy responses. Ideally, these will shape future investments in youth employment as countries continue to prioritize youth in their national policy agendas.

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