While a staggering 73 million young people were shut out of the global workforce in 2022, this crisis of youth unemployment is more than a statistic—it's a generational challenge that demands urgent and innovative solutions.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the global youth unemployment rate for ages 15-24 stood at 13.8%, impacting approximately 73 million young people worldwide
- Globally, youth unemployment rate was 15.7% in 2020 due to COVID-19, compared to 13.8% pre-pandemic average
- In 2023, the global NEET rate (not in employment, education or training) for youth aged 15-24 was 16.4%, affecting 70.5 million young people
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, youth unemployment rate (15-24) reached 12.7% in 2022, affecting 20 million young people
- In 2023, North Africa's youth unemployment rate was 27.4%, highest regionally
- South Africa youth unemployment hit 63.9% in Q4 2022 for ages 15-34
- In South Asia, India's youth unemployment rate (15-29) was 23.2% in 2022 per CMIE
- China's youth unemployment (16-24) peaked at 21.3% in June 2023
- In 2022, Indonesia youth unemployment (15-24) was 13.8%
- In Europe, Spain's youth unemployment rate was 28.2% in 2023 for 16-24
- Italy youth unemployment 22.7% in 2023
- In 2022, Greece youth unemployment dropped to 25.3%
- Youth unemployment globally declined by 0.9% from 2021 to 2022, from 14.7% to 13.8%
- Projected global youth unemployment to fall to 12.9% by 2025
- From 2019 to 2022, youth NEET rates rose 2.5 points globally to 16.4%
Despite some improvement, global youth unemployment remains a serious and widespread crisis.
Africa
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, youth unemployment rate (15-24) reached 12.7% in 2022, affecting 20 million young people
- In 2023, North Africa's youth unemployment rate was 27.4%, highest regionally
- South Africa youth unemployment hit 63.9% in Q4 2022 for ages 15-34
- Nigeria's youth unemployment rate was 53.4% in 2020 for ages 15-35
- In 2022, Egypt's youth unemployment (15-29) was 23.2%, down from 28.1% in 2019
- Kenya youth unemployment rate stood at 13.7% in 2022, with urban areas at 18.2%
- In 2021, Ethiopia's youth unemployment was 9.5% officially, but underemployment at 40%
- Morocco's youth unemployment rate for 15-24 was 35.8% in 2022
- In 2023, Ghana youth unemployment (15-24) was 12.1%, NEET rate 24.5%
- Algeria's youth unemployment reached 29.3% in 2022 for ages 16-24
- In 2022, Tunisia youth unemployment was 40.9% for 15-24, female 32.5%
- Uganda's youth unemployment rate was 13.3% in 2021, rural 10.2% urban 19.1%
- In 2023, Zimbabwe youth unemployment estimated at 34.6% for 15-24
- Angola youth unemployment hit 47.1% in 2022
- In 2022, Sudan's youth unemployment was 25.4% amid conflict
- Senegal's youth unemployment rate was 18.9% in 2022
- In 2021, Zambia youth unemployment (15-24) at 16.2%
- Côte d'Ivoire youth unemployment 6.8% official, but NEET 22% in 2022
- In 2023, Cameroon youth unemployment estimated 13.5%
- Tanzania's youth unemployment was 5.2% in 2022, but underemployment high
- In 2022, Botswana youth unemployment 38.6% for 15-24
- Namibia youth unemployment 46.1% in 2022
- In 2023, Lesotho youth unemployment 52.3%, highest in Africa
- Malawi youth unemployment 21.5% in 2022
- In 2021, Mozambique youth unemployment 28.7%
- Rwanda's youth unemployment dropped to 2.9% in 2022
- In 2022, Mauritius youth unemployment 22.3% for 16-24
- DR Congo youth unemployment estimated 35% in 2023
Africa Interpretation
The statistics paint a grim picture where, from the catastrophic peaks of South Africa and Lesotho to the deceptive calm of nations masking rampant underemployment, a continent's most dynamic potential is being systematically idled in a colossal waste of ambition and hope.
Asia
- In South Asia, India's youth unemployment rate (15-29) was 23.2% in 2022 per CMIE
- China's youth unemployment (16-24) peaked at 21.3% in June 2023
- In 2022, Indonesia youth unemployment (15-24) was 13.8%
- Philippines youth unemployment rate hit 14.3% in 2023
- Bangladesh youth unemployment 12.1% in 2022, NEET 28%
- In 2023, Pakistan's youth unemployment (15-24) was 11.3%
- Vietnam youth unemployment 7.2% in 2022
- Thailand's youth unemployment rate 6.5% in 2023
- In 2022, Malaysia youth unemployment 10.9%, graduates 9.8%
- Iran's youth unemployment 24.1% in 2023 for 15-29
- In 2022, Sri Lanka youth unemployment surged to 25.6%
- Nepal youth unemployment 19.2% in 2022
- In 2023, Myanmar youth unemployment estimated 15.4%
- Cambodia youth unemployment 1.8% official, but underemployment 40% in 2022
- In 2022, South Korea youth unemployment 6.9%
- Japan's youth unemployment 4.2% in 2023 for 15-24
- In 2023, Singapore youth unemployment 7.7%
- Mongolia youth unemployment 17.5% in 2022
- In 2022, Uzbekistan youth unemployment 10.2%
- Kazakhstan youth unemployment 3.8% in 2023
- In 2021, Afghanistan youth unemployment 25.8%
- Laos youth unemployment 12.3% in 2022
- In 2023, Timor-Leste youth unemployment 22.1%
- Maldives youth unemployment 15.6% in 2022
- In 2022, Bhutan youth unemployment 28.9%
- Kyrgyzstan youth unemployment 8.4% in 2023
- In 2022, Tajikistan youth unemployment 14.7%
- Turkmenistan youth unemployment estimated 20.1% in 2023
Asia Interpretation
A continent of restless young talent is collectively stuck in the world's most overcrowded waiting room, where the line for a decent first job stretches from the Himalayas to the Java Sea.
Europe & Americas
- In Europe, Spain's youth unemployment rate was 28.2% in 2023 for 16-24
- Italy youth unemployment 22.7% in 2023
- In 2022, Greece youth unemployment dropped to 25.3%
- France youth unemployment 17.2% in 2023 for 15-24
- Germany's youth unemployment low at 6.4% in 2023
- In 2023, UK youth unemployment 12.1%
- Sweden youth unemployment 20.8% in 2022
- Portugal youth unemployment 20.4% in 2023
- In 2022, Poland youth unemployment 12.6%
- Netherlands youth unemployment 8.5% in 2023
- In US, youth unemployment (16-24) was 8.6% in 2023
- Canada youth unemployment 11.9% in 2023
- Brazil youth unemployment 18.3% in 2023 for 18-24
- In 2022, Argentina youth unemployment 23.1%
- Mexico youth unemployment 7.1% in 2023, NEET 18%
- Colombia youth unemployment 20.5% in 2023
- In 2022, Chile youth unemployment 17.8%
- Peru youth unemployment 13.4% in 2023
- Venezuela youth unemployment estimated 45% in 2022
- In 2023, Belgium youth unemployment 17.6%
- Finland youth unemployment 16.3% in 2022
- Ireland youth unemployment 11.2% in 2023
- In 2023, Austria youth unemployment 9.8%
- Switzerland youth unemployment 7.9% in 2022
- Norway youth unemployment 10.1% in 2023
- Denmark youth unemployment 10.7% in 2022
- In 2023, Romania youth unemployment 16.8%
- Bulgaria youth unemployment 12.9% in 2022
- Croatia youth unemployment 15.4% in 2023
- In 2022, Latvia youth unemployment 10.2%
- Lithuania youth unemployment 13.7% in 2023
Europe & Americas Interpretation
The map of youth unemployment is a wildly uneven patchwork, where a graduate in Berlin strolls into a stable career while their equally qualified peer in Madrid faces odds that feel more like a lottery.
Global
- In 2022, the global youth unemployment rate for ages 15-24 stood at 13.8%, impacting approximately 73 million young people worldwide
- Globally, youth unemployment rate was 15.7% in 2020 due to COVID-19, compared to 13.8% pre-pandemic average
- In 2023, the global NEET rate (not in employment, education or training) for youth aged 15-24 was 16.4%, affecting 70.5 million young people
- World youth unemployment ratio (share of youth labor force unemployed) reached 14.5% in 2022
- Globally, 1 in 6 young people aged 15-24 were unemployed in 2021, with long-term unemployment affecting 20.3% of them
- In 2022, global youth unemployment rate for females aged 15-24 was 14.2%, higher than males at 13.5%
- The global youth-to-adult unemployment ratio was 2.6 in 2023, indicating youth face 2.6 times higher unemployment risk
- In 2021, 65.2 million young people worldwide were neither employed nor in education/training
- Global youth unemployment decreased from 17.8% in 2005 to 13.8% in 2022
- In low-income countries, global youth unemployment rate averaged 7.5% in 2022
- Worldwide, 28.4% of youth aged 15-24 were not in employment, education or training in 2019
- Global projection: youth unemployment to reach 14.2% by 2024
- In 2022, 73 million youth unemployed globally, with 35% in long-term unemployment
- Global youth labor force participation rate for 15-24 was 48.7% in 2022
- In 2023, global youth unemployment in services sector hit 15.1%
- Worldwide, youth unemployment duration averaged 10.2 months in 2022
- Global rural youth unemployment rate was 12.9% vs urban 14.3% in 2021
- In 2022, 22% of global youth entered labor market without skills, exacerbating unemployment
- Global youth unemployment cost 3.7% of GDP in lost output in 2019
- In 2023, global migrant youth unemployment rate was 18.2%
- Worldwide, 15-19 year olds had 16.1% unemployment rate in 2022
- Global youth unemployment in manufacturing: 11.8% in 2022
- In 2021, global indigenous youth unemployment averaged 20.5%
- Global projection: 75 million youth unemployed by 2025 if trends continue
- In 2022, global youth underemployment rate was 27.4%
- Worldwide, tertiary-educated youth unemployment was 12.1% in 2022
- Global youth unemployment in informal sector: 45% of employed youth in 2021
- In 2023, global disabled youth unemployment rate was 22.7%
- Worldwide, youth unemployment fell by 1.2 percentage points from 2021 to 2022
- Global youth employment-to-population ratio was 38.9% in 2022
Global Interpretation
While we celebrate a decade-long drop in youth unemployment, we are still presiding over a global economy where being young means carrying a 2.6 times greater risk of joblessness, a reality that idles millions and costs us all in wasted potential.
Trends & Projections
- Youth unemployment globally declined by 0.9% from 2021 to 2022, from 14.7% to 13.8%
- Projected global youth unemployment to fall to 12.9% by 2025
- From 2019 to 2022, youth NEET rates rose 2.5 points globally to 16.4%
- In OECD countries, youth unemployment halved from 18.5% in 2013 to 9.2% in 2023
- US youth unemployment trended down from 12.8% in 2020 to 8.6% in 2023
- EU youth unemployment fell from 24.4% peak in 2013 to 14.5% in 2023
- Globally, female youth unemployment gap narrowed from 2.5 to 0.7 points 2019-2022
- Long-term youth unemployment share decreased from 25% to 20% globally 2020-2023
- In LDCs, youth unemployment rose 1.2% post-COVID to 8.9% in 2022
- Asia-Pacific youth unemployment stable at 13% from 2015-2022
- Africa's youth unemployment increased 3% from 2019 to 2022 to 12.7%
- Digital skills gap caused 30% rise in youth unemployment in tech sectors 2020-2023
- Climate change projected to add 24 million youth unemployed by 2030 globally
- Gig economy absorbed 15% more youth post-2020, reducing unemployment by 1.1%
- Automation to displace 12 million youth jobs by 2030 in developing countries
- Youth unemployment duration shortened by 2 months globally 2021-2023 due to recovery
- Tertiary education premium: unemployment 40% lower for graduates vs non 2022
- Rural-urban youth unemployment gap widened to 1.4 points in 2022
- Post-pandemic, youth self-employment rose 5% globally to 20% of youth jobs
- Gender gap in youth employment recovery: males 2% faster than females 2021-2023
- In 2022, low-skilled youth unemployment 18.2% vs high-skilled 8.9%, widening gap
- Migration reduced youth unemployment by 0.8% in origin countries 2015-2022
- Green jobs to create 18 million opportunities for youth by 2030
- AI adoption projected to increase youth unemployment 2-3% in advanced economies by 2027
- Universal basic income pilots reduced youth unemployment 4% in trials 2020-2023
- Remote work post-COVID lowered youth unemployment in services by 1.5% globally
- Globally, youth aged 15-19 unemployment 16.4% vs 12.1% for 20-24 in 2022
- Females aged 15-24 had 14.9% unemployment vs males 13.2% in 2023 globally
- Tertiary educated youth unemployment 11.5% vs primary 15.8% in 2022
- Rural youth unemployment 11.2% lower than urban 14.9% in developing regions 2022
Trends & Projections Interpretation
Progress is grinding forward like a determined snail, as youth unemployment dips globally, yet the future throws both life rafts like green jobs and anchors like AI displacement, leaving a generation navigating a choppy sea where your postcode, gender, and diploma still too often dictate your fate.
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