91����

Investing in care isn’t just compassion, it’s powerful economics that creates jobs, empowers women, and builds healthier, fairer societies for generations.

As , a mismatch between labor supply and demand, , highlights the urgent need for investment in training, and inclusive workforce development.

The majority of the world’s refugees live in countries with fragile economies, where opportunities for employment and self-reliance are often limited. With displacement lasting more than a decade on average, the question of how refugees can build sustainable livelihoods has become increasingly urgent.
In this , Professor Alexander Betts and Bisimwa Mulemangabo discuss how refugees navigate labour markets, the barriers they face, and the innovative ways they create livelihoods.

On its 10th anniversary, World Youth Skills Day (15 July) focuses on empowering youth through artificial intelligence (AI) and digital learning. Today, 7 in 10 young people—some 450 million—are disconnected from economic opportunities due to a lack of adequate skills. From basic literacy to advanced digital and AI skills, empowering young people helps them not only adapt, but lead change. On this day, add your voice to the global celebration! Use #WorkLifeReady and #YouthLead to  and uplift others on the path to success.

The global labour market is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by rapid technological innovation, environmental changes, and shifting demographics. While these developments hold the promise of increased productivity and greater cross-border collaboration, they also present significant challenges to the goal of achieving decent work for all. These critical issues are being addressed at the in Geneva, from 2 to 4 July, where experts are exploring solutions around decent employment, worker empowerment, and stronger labour institutions.

With 1.2 billion young people in emerging economies reaching working age over the next decade—and only about 420 million jobs expected to be generated—the urgency of finding scalable and sustainable solutions has never been greater.

In of , we hear from one young person about their journey into the world of work and what the is doing to address one of the most urgent issues facing development: how to meet the stable employment aspirations of the developing world's fast-growing youth population.

Things should be looking good for young people in the world of work, but they’re not. While unemployment among young workers between 15 and 24 has recovered from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s a growing epidemic of unhappiness among those workers in both the developed and now the developing world. So, what is to be done? , a professor at Dartmouth College, renowned labour economist and recognized expert on youth employment, what can be done.

In 2024, global employment grew in line with a rising labour force, maintaining the unemployment rate at 5%, consistent with 2023, according to the International Labour Organization's  report. The economy expanded at a moderate rate of 3.2%, down from previous years. While inflation has decreased, wage growth remains slow due to weak employment growth. Work force participation has slightly declined, impacting employment rates, and significant gender gaps in participation persist, limiting potential improvements in living standards.

The by ILO Bangladesh is empowering women and girls in Cox's Bazar to excel in nontraditional trades like plumbing, challenging gender stereotypes and promoting inclusivity in the workforce.

Generative AI is poised to reshape the job market, raising critical questions about its impact on youth unemployment and underemployment. Despite a global surge in college enrollment, many graduates face job markets that fail to match their qualifications, particularly in developing nations. Youth unemployment is alarmingly high, with developing countries struggling to create stable, productive jobs for their educated populations. For instance, over 70% of young workers in Sub-Saharan Africa are in insecure employment. GenAI’s potential lies in boosting productivity in high-skill service sectors, but it also risks accelerating “premature de-professionalization,” making white-collar jobs harder to secure. The urges developing nations to adopt AI swiftly to access complex, growth-driving industries. Delayed adoption risks further cycles of unemployment and stagnation for the 1.2 billion youth entering the workforce in the next decade.

Industrial symbiosis is a circular economy approach where businesses collaborate to repurpose waste and by-products, conserving resources and energy. This method not only benefits the environment but also presents new business opportunities and decent jobs. However, establishing these symbiotic value chains can be challenging, and ensuring that newly created jobs are both green and decent—especially in small and medium-sized enterprises—is not guaranteed. How can we effectively apply this concept to maximize benefits for businesses, workers, economies, and the environment? Sabrina de Gobbi, an International Labour Organization () Senior Economist, joins the to discuss what potential it has to ‘green’ economies and how we can ensure that the jobs it creates are decent.

How can social protection help those most vulnerable to the worst impacts of climate change? 

In this of 's , Kumi Naidoo, a longtime human rights and climate justice activist, and Shahra Razavi, Director of the ILO’s Universal Social Protection department, discuss the issue.

Yakwetu is transforming Kenya's film industry by through a legitimate pay-as-you-go streaming model that supports local creators and combats the illegal copying of content.

The Employment Intensive Investment Programme () helps countries around the world create more and better jobs through public investment in inclusive infrastructure. See how the programme works.

Working from home was not an option for most people before March 11, 2020, when work and home life suddenly collided. The pandemic upended many aspects of doing business, but the daily commute is one routine that seems unlikely to return to what it was.

was studying the potential impact of remote work long before the pandemic launched it into the mainstream and now has data to suggest businesses should stick to the hybrid working model. Bloom is the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University.