257 million. 🌍 That is the number of young people worldwide who today are not studying, not working, or receiving any training, according to the latest report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), published in August 2026 in Geneva.
The figure represents 20% of all young people on the planet, and it comes with another worrying fact: youth unemployment (15 to 24 years old) rose to 12.4% in 2025, meaning 67 million people without work. When both indicators rise together, the ILO says it plainly: they are warning signs. 🚨
Behind the average lies enormous inequality: more than two out of every three “NEETs” worldwide are women, with a rate of 24.7% compared with just 3.1% among men.
The ILO attributes this to the economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions, and the changes that artificial intelligence is bringing to the world of work. And it does not promise relief: it projects that youth unemployment will remain close to 12.3% during 2026 and 2027. Do you know any young person in this situation?