The market improvement was driven by strong economic growth rates following the Covid-19 pandemic, which has stimulated demand for youth labour, according to the ILO.
Youth unemployment rates in 2023 returned to their pre-pandemic levels or lower in most, but not all, subregions.
For young people in the Arab States, East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific, youth unemployment rates were higher last year than in 2019, the ILO said.
For the Arab states, this was a continuation of the pre-Covid-19 trend. But for the Asian subregions, it marked a change of direction from the stronger growth of the pre-Covid years.
The ILO also noted that the average age of the population in Africa, which is much lower than in more developed countries, has raised questions about its economic sustainability.
The looming “youthquake” in Africa means job creation is becoming a critical issue for social justice and the future of the global economy, the organization said.
