Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in OECD members
OECD members: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 11.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in OECD members, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in OECD members is 11.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in OECD members peaked at 17.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 2023.
That places OECD members 32nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in OECD members, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.3% | — |
| 1992 | 14.0% | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 15.2% | +8.7% |
| 1994 | 15.4% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 15.6% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 15.6% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 15.1% | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 14.8% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 15.0% | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 14.1% | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 13.9% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 14.8% | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 15.2% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 15.3% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 14.8% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 13.9% | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 13.1% | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 13.8% | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 17.6% | +27.2% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 17.3% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 17.4% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 17.3% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 16.3% | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 15.1% | -7.2% |
| 2016 | 14.2% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 12.5% | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 12.6% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 15.8% | +25.7% |
| 2021 | 13.6% | -13.9% |
| 2022 | 11.6% | -15.1% |
| 2023 | 11.2% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 11.6% | +3.1% |
| 2025 | 11.6% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.9% | 13.3% | 15.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.7% | 13.1% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.4% | 12.5% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.6% | 11.2% | 15.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More work & labour data for OECD members
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 60.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 43.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 50.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 47.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 66.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 80.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 73.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 53.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in OECD members?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in OECD members was 11.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 17.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 2023.
- How does OECD members rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- OECD members ranks 32nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this OECD members data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.