Youth Unemployment Still In Critical Condition In G20 Nations, ILO Reports

ILO News- The global youth unemployment situation remains critical, with 17.7 million young people – or just more than 16% – unemployed in 17 of the G20 countries for which data is available, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said 3 October 2012.

During the last 12 months the youth unemployment rate has increased in 10 countries whereas the employment to working age population has declined in 12 countries, according to an ILO document presented at a G20 Task Force on Employment meeting.

“Let’s be realistic: We know that the perspectives out there on the labor market are anything but bright,” Guy Ryder, ILO director-general, told participants.

“We know that when the general employment figures are bad, the situation of youth employment is even worse,” he added. “We have to look for new approaches.”

Need to Promote Apprenticeships To Help Lower Youth Unemployment

The task group expressed commitment to promoting and strengthening apprenticeships as a proven means of

Guy Ryder

transitioning soundly between learning and work.

The General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Sharan Burrow, and the Secretary-General of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), Brent Wilton, both expressed strong support for the goal of promoting apprenticeships and said they planned to lead national consultations.

The share of young women and men in apprenticeships varies greatly from country to country.

Germany leads in this field, with close to half of all 16-24 year olds in apprenticeships, while other countries achieve levels of below 20%, according to another ILO document presented at the meeting: Overview of Apprenticeship Systems and Issues.

“The ILO has decided to make youth employment a key part of its work,” Ryder said, pointing to a Call for Action launched at the International Labour Conference in June 2012.

http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_190716/lang–en/index.htm