Abstract
Incorporating the most recent data available, the Global Employment Trends for Youth sets out the labour market situation of young people around the world. It shows where progress has or has not been made, investigates the where, why and how of young people’s labour market vulnerabilities, and highlights the policy measures and interventions that aim to support job creation and effectively set young people on the pathway to decent work. The 2026 edition reports on discouraging labour market outcomes for young people, with rising unemployment and inactivity following from a global context of stagnating economic growth, geopolitical tensions and disruptions linked to technological changes. Getting “back to the future” of decent work for young people requires a bold and adaptive policy approach that: adopts a human-centred approach to AI (and other technology) governance; invests in skills that combine technical competencies with social and cognitive capabilities; strengthens lifelong learning systems; modernizes employment services; expands social protection to cover diverse forms of work; and strengthens international cooperation to reduce widening inequalities in opportunities across countries.