After fleeing Sudan's conflict, many lawyers found themselves unable to practice in refugee camps in eastern Chad despite their skills and experience. A UNHCR-supported training programme, delivered with the Chadian Bar Association, is helping them learn Chadian law, earn certification, and resume legal work. Graduates now provide legal aid, raise awareness of refugee rights, and help fellow refugees navigate unfamiliar legal systems. For participants such as Amira, Mohamed and Amni, the programme restores purpose, dignity, livelihoods, and the ability to support their communities while rebuilding their own lives in exile.
Employment
Technical skills have the power to transform lives—but only when everyone has the chance to learn them. Breaking down barriers to vocational education means creating training environments where people of all genders can develop in-demand skills, pursue non-traditional careers, and access better job opportunities. From safer classrooms to stronger support systems and inclusive leadership, small changes can open doors to lasting economic empowerment. What does it take to make technical training truly accessible, equitable, and ready for the workforce of tomorrow?
With uneven growth and slowing productivity in many regions, can growth still be inclusive, sustainable and create decent jobs? In a new episode of ILO’s The podcast looks at how responsible business practices shape firms, treatment of workers and the wider economy.
Podcast guests:
Mark Birrell, President, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
Abdul-Moomin Gbana, General Secretary, Ghana Mine Workers Union
Githa Roelans, Head of the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct Unit, ILO
Step inside Nigeria’s cocoa-growing communities through this immersive virtual reality film and hear directly from young women whose childhoods were shaped by hazardous child labour and tough daily realities.
In a world shaped by AI, the green transition, and demographic change, lifelong learning is key to supporting good jobs and more inclusive societies. But new International Labour Organization (ILO) research shows access to quality learning is still deeply unequal.
In this of ILO's listen to a discussion with Pedro Moreno da Fonseca, Lifelong learning specialist at the ILO, Hannah Liepmann, Economist at the ILO, Chaudhry Saad Muhammad, General Secretary of the Pakistan United Workers Federation, and Josephine Andriamamonjiarison, Honorary President of the Employers’ Association of Madagascar and member of the ILO Governing Body.
Across the world, women are reshaping traditional ideas about work and challenging barriers that have long limited their opportunities. This photo story from highlights the experiences of women in countries including Benin, Paraguay, Japan, Uganda, Togo and Germany who are building careers in fields often dominated by men or navigating changing economic realities. From mechanics and electricians to entrepreneurs, engineers and health workers, their stories reflect broader shifts in workforce participation, gender equality and ageing populations. The story explores how education, rights and opportunity are helping women redefine what work—and leadership—can look like.
In this of the , Manal Azzi explains how psychosocial risks such as long working hours, job insecurity and workplace bullying affect workers’ health, and what can be done to create healthier working environments worldwide.
In Salvador, Neojiba helps young people build careers through luthiery, turning music education into jobs, skills, and social inclusion.
While significant gains have been recorded in poverty reduction, education, and social protection coverage, structural inequalities, labour market informality, gender disparities, and declining trust in institutions continue to impede inclusive and sustainable development. The 2026 World Day of Social Justice recognizes the progress achieved and acknowledges persistent and emerging challenges. It calls for strengthening policy coherence across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, reinforcing multilateral cooperation, and placing equity and solidarity at the center of global policymaking.
In a new episode of the , we unpack the International Labour Organization’s new Employment and Social Trends 2026 report with its lead author, Stefan Kühn, and ILO trade expert Marva Corley. Together, they explore why labour markets look stable yet remain fragile – and what this means for job quality, inequality, and the future of work.
As a child helping his family make shoes, Jestoni Go Padua later became a school instructor, now empowering young people with skills for decent work and a better future.
Despite conflicts, debt pressures, and climate shocks, 2025 proved more resilient than expected for the global economy. Growth held at around 2.7 percent as countries adapted through digitalization, AI adoption, and diversified supply chains. Against this backdrop, the its central mission, recognizing jobs as the strongest path out of poverty and instability. With 1.2 billion young people entering the workforce over the next decade, the Bank focused on five high-impact sectors: energy and infrastructure, agribusiness, health care, tourism, and manufacturing. By mobilizing private capital and partnerships, 2025 laid the groundwork for inclusive, job-driven growth heading into 2026.
This explores how the private sector can drive economic inclusion of young refugees by expanding access to decent work and protecting their rights at work. Roman Bojko, Human Rights and Social Impact Leader at Ingka Group shares more about the company’s global Skills for Employment initiative and lessons learned from integrating refugee talent across 26 countries. The conversation highlights how hiring refugees is not just the right thing to do - it’s also good for business, fostering innovation, resilience, and inclusion in the workplace.
Alaa Mhairat tells us how she gained financial independence and found work in an agricultural project to create a green environment for her community in Jordan.
Natalia Cebanu from Moldova shares how access to childcare support gave her greater freedom and equal opportunities as a working mother of two.