By Abi-Gail Averlon Toussaint

GENEVA (ILO News) – Global unemployment remains stable, but progress toward decent work has stalled, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report also warns that young people continue to struggle, while artificial intelligence and trade policy uncertainty risk further undermining the job market.

The Employment and Social Trends 2026 report finds that while the global unemployment rate is projected to stay at 4.9 per cent in 2026 – equivalent to 186 million people – millions of workers around the world still lack access to quality jobs.

“Resilient growth and stable unemployment figures should not distract us from the deeper reality: hundreds of millions of workers remain trapped in poverty, informality, and exclusion,” ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said. Read more