ILO Says Youth Unemployment Hit 12.4% in 2025 as Global NEET Rate Reached 20%
Updated
Updated · The Hindu · Aug 12
ILO Says Youth Unemployment Hit 12.4% in 2025 as Global NEET Rate Reached 20%
3 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Aug 12
Summary
67 million young people were unemployed worldwide in 2025, with the jobless rate for ages 15-24 edging up to 12.4% from the 2023 low, the ILO said.
20% of young people were not in employment, education or training in 2025, up from 19.7% in 2023, adding 9 million to bring the global NEET total to 257 million.
Eight of 11 subregions recorded higher youth unemployment between 2023 and 2025 as slower growth, weaker job creation, geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change stalled the post-pandemic recovery.
27.4% of young women were in NEET status versus 13.1% of young men, and more than two-thirds of all youth in NEET status were women.
6.1% of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 are highly exposed to AI-related change, prompting the ILO to urge human-centred AI rules, stronger training and better employment services.