World Employment and Social Outlook 2016

Trends for Youth

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Author: International Labour Organization (ILO)

Year: 2016

Abstract:

Global economic growth in 2016 is estimated to stand at 3.2 per cent, 0.4 percentage points lower than the figure predicted in late 2015. The downward revision is a result of recessions that were deeper than expected in some key emerging commodity-exporting countries, including Argentina, Brazil and the Russian Federation. In addition, growth in developing countries, at only 4.2 per cent in 2016, is at its lowest level since 2003. Despite anticipation of a slight improvement in global growth for 2017, global investment and hiring decisions remain subdued in the face of the uncertainty generated by a rapidly changing environment.

Consequently, the global youth unemployment rate is on the rise after a number of years of improvement, and is expected to reach 13.1 per cent in 2016 (from 12.9 in 2015). This is very close to its historic peak in 2013 (at 13.2 per cent) and where it is expected to remain in 2017. As a result, after falling by some 3 million between 2012 and 2015, the number of unemployed youth globally will rise by half a million in 2016 to reach 71 million and will remain at this level in 2017.

The deterioration is particularly marked in emerging countries where the unemployment rate is predicted to rise from 13.3 per cent in 2015 to 13.7 per cent in 2017 (a figure which corresponds to 53.5 million unemployed in 2017, compared to 52.9 million in 2015). The youth unemployment rate in developing countries is expected to remain relatively stable, at around 9.5 per cent in 2016, but in terms of absolute numbers it should increase by around 0.2 million in 2016 to reach 7.9 million unemployed youth in 2017, largely due to an expanding labour force. Finally, in developed countries,
the unemployment rate among youth is anticipated to be the highest globally in 2016 (14.5 per cent or 9.8 million) and although the rate is expected to decline in 2017, the pace of improvement will slow (falling only to 14.3 per cent in 2017)...

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a unique opportunity to incorporate youth policies into comprehensive sustainable development strategies. After all, improving outcomes for youth through appropriate youth employment and social policies is fundamental to inclusive and sustainable societies and to the achievement of the SDGs. In this regard, the four strategic objectives of the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, adopted in 2008 and evaluated in 2016, can help to develop and shape national strategies for youth employment, combat decent work deficits for youth, address poverty and inequality and equip youth with the means to achieve a more equitable and prosperous future.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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