The UN News Service reports that around 300 million workers continue to live in extreme poverty, earning less than three dollars a day. At the same time, there is an increase in the number of workers in the informal sector: by 2026, 2.1 billion people will be working without social protection and labor rights.
The most significant difficulties are faced by workers in low-income countries, where working conditions remain extremely harsh.
The authors of the report note that the slow transition to high-tech industries and services is a significant barrier to improving productivity and the quality of jobs.
The situation with youth also raises serious concerns. In 2025, the youth unemployment rate reached 12.4 percent.
According to the study, about 260 million young people worldwide are neither studying, nor working, nor undergoing vocational training. In low-income countries, this figure reaches 27.9 percent. The ILO warns that the application of artificial intelligence and automation may exacerbate existing problems, especially for educated youth in high-income countries.
Women, in turn, continue to face systemic barriers caused by social norms and stereotypes. Globally, they make up only two-fifths of the entire workforce and participate in labor activities 24 percent less often than men. The dynamics of women's participation in the labor market have practically stalled.
It should also be noted that the aging population in wealthy countries slows down labor force growth, while in low-income countries, rapid population growth is not accompanied by the creation of a sufficient number of quality jobs.
The employment growth forecast for 2026 is as follows:
- 0.5 percent — in high-income countries;
- 1.8 percent — in middle-income countries;
- 3.1 percent — in low-income countries.
The ILO warns that without creating a sufficient number of quality jobs, poor countries risk missing out on their demographic dividend.
Experts strongly recommend:
- investing in skills, education, and infrastructure to boost productivity;
- reducing employment gaps among youth and women;
- ensuring that global trade promotes decent work in all regions;
- mitigating risks associated with debt, artificial intelligence, and trade uncertainty through coordinated policy.
