Global Employment Trends for Youth 2022: Investing in Transforming Futures for Young People — Construction Sector Analysis
About this book
Global Employment Trends for Youth 2022: Investing in Transforming Futures for Young People, published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2022, provides a comprehensive assessment of global youth labour market conditions following the COVID-19 pandemic's severe impact on young workers. The report draws on ILO modelled estimates and labour force survey data from over 180 countries, providing the most authoritative global picture of youth employment, unemployment, and labour underutilisation. The pandemic's disproportionate impact on youth is the central finding of this edition.
Young people (aged 15–24) experienced unemployment rate increases of 5.5 percentage points globally in 2020 — roughly double the increase experienced by adult workers — reflecting their concentration in service sectors most affected by lockdowns (hospitality, retail, personal services), their higher share of informal and temporary employment arrangements with no job security, and their limited seniority-based protection from layoffs. Recovery was uneven: while youth unemployment rates in advanced economies approached pre-pandemic levels by 2021-2022, many developing regions saw continued deterioration. The report introduces a broader measure of youth labour market difficulties: the youth NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) rate.
Globally, approximately 23.3% of all young people — 289 million individuals — were NEET in 2021, with rates significantly higher among young women in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (where female NEET rates exceed 40%). The gendered dimension of youth labour market exclusion is examined in detail. A chapter on green economy transitions examines youth employment opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, circular economy activities, and green construction.
The report estimates that the transition to a net-zero economy could create 30 million net new jobs globally by 2030, with a significant share in construction and retrofitting activities. However, it notes that young workers are underrepresented in green sectors and that skills mismatch is a significant barrier. Digital transformation and its implications for youth employment are examined through the lens of platform economy work — gig work, app-based delivery, digital freelancing — which offers flexibility but typically lacks social protection, career progression, and skills development pathways.
The report calls for policy frameworks that regulate platform work, extend social protection to gig workers, and invest in digital skills training for young people.