Despite a global drop in youth unemployment rates, lack of economic opportunity remains a top concern for young people worldwide. In 2024, the unemployment rate for those under 30 fell to 13% (a 15-year low), with projections suggesting it may drop further to 12.8% in 2025.1 However, these statistics mask troubling realities. Approximately 20% of young people are not in employment, education or training (NEET),2 with young women making up two-thirds of this group. The promise of gender parity in employment feels distant, with projections pushing equity well into the 22nd century. Regional employment disparities, particularly rising youth unemployment in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, threaten to leave a generation behind. Even for those who are employed, the quality of jobs available remains a significant issue. Four in five young workers are in temporary or informal positions, lacking job security, adequate pay and legal protections. In low-income countries, 20% of young people hold regular, paid employment, compared to 80% in wealthier nations.3 This precarious reality fosters frustration and anxiety, as many struggle to envision a stable future where they can achieve life milestones such as starting families, investing in homes or planning long-term. For young people in ageing societies, this situation is exacerbated by additional pressures such as underfunded social security systems, pension shortfalls and widening generational wealth gaps. These structural challenges go beyond just economic strain – they also have social consequences. Many young people feel sidelined by systems that favour older generations, deepening a sense of exclusion and exacerbating social divides. To build a more inclusive global economy, young people are calling on governments, businesses and global institutions to create more equitable pathways to employment, invest in youth-led solutions, and dismantle the systemic barriers that have constrained their potential for far too long. Young people’s calls to action are clear: economic opportunities must translate into long-term stability, growth and independence for all.1.1 Economic outlook: confronting barriers and disparities We need an economy that truly invests in us and unleashes the potential of a generation that has so much to contribute. Not just with jobs and skills, but with fair, sustainable careers that offer real security, agency and prosperity. To make this vision a reality, we must dismantle the systemic barriers that hold us back. Noura Berrouba, Global Shapers Foundation Board Member and Global Shaper, Stockholm Hub, Sweden 12 12 Global Shapers Impact Report

Global Shapers Impact Report 2025