Global youth unemployment (ages 15–24) rose to 12.4% in 2025, affecting 67 million young people worldwide, driven by weak economic growth and geopolitical tensions. The ILO warns AI will intensify labor market pressure, with 6.1% of youth jobs at highest risk; a 10% loss in those roles could displace 5.6 million workers. In developing economies, most youth are pushed into informal work lacking labor protections, while high-skill sectors (tech, health, engineering) continue expanding—a growing divide by income level and geography.