part-time work, apprenticeships and entrepreneurial ventures. More than 55% of the respondents report only just meeting their basic needs, having just a little left over, or in some cases, barely or not meeting basic needs at all. Institutions and industries Respondents work across a wide spectrum of institutions – from global Fortune 500 companies to multilateral and non-profit organizations like the United Nations. Others are active in public service and government, including local municipalities, national ministries and international delegations. Many are also entrepreneurs and founders driving start-ups in fields such as fintech, climate tech, education technology and AI. Cross-sectoral presence Sectorally, the respondents represent civil society, government, academia, the private sector and emerging industries, spanning fields such as technology and software, sustainability and environment, healthcare, finance, media and the creative economy. This cross-sectoral presence has ensured a broad diversity of insights captured in the survey. Gaps in demography Certain dimensions of diversity were not systematically captured, such as rural versus urban residence, ethnicity, disability status, sexual orientation or socio-economic backgrounds based on financial situations. These factors may influence how young people experience opportunities or challenges and should be considered when interpreting results. Regional distribution of responses FIGURE 20 7.5% 5.2%11.7% 5.8% 14.5%14.5% 17.0%Sub-Saharan Africa/uni00A0 Europe and Eurasia/uni00A0 23.7% Latin AmericaNorth America and Caribbean/uni00A0 ASEAN and PaciﬁcMiddle East and North Africa North and East Asia South Asia Youth Pulse 2026: Insights from the next generation for a changing world 52