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Young people have been disproportionately affected by the global crisis that broke out in the autumn of 2008. This trend has exacerbated earlier challenges and there is concern that unless action is taken, the situation of youth will become unsustainable, putting social cohesion at threat. Interview with Raymond Torres, Director of the International Institute for Labour Studies and Steven Tobin, ILO economist, co-authors of a new report entitled "Youth employment in crisis".

How have young people fared since the start of the crisis?

Since the start of the crisis, the youth unemployment rate has risen over 7 percentage points – the sharpest two year increase on record – and now exceeds 21 per cent on average in the countries for which data are available. In total, young persons – or those aged 15 to 24 – account for over 22 per cent of the increase in the number of unemployed since the beginning of 2007 and is now nearly three times the average level among adults aged 25 and over.

With labour market conditions continuing to worsen, long-term unemployment among youth has already begun to rise in almost all countries, notably in Spain and the United States.

The impact of long-term unemployment on youth can be devastating and long-lasting. Young people, who lack general or vocational education and work experience, are especially vulnerable to the crisis.

Many young people who are employed are “overqualified” for the job they perform. A sense of discouragement and precariousness is spreading fast.

Why is it so important to address youth employment specifically?

The longer young persons remain out of touch with the labour market, the more difficult – and costly – it is to return to productive employment. There are also a number of important social implications related to exclusion, including

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The International Labor Organization

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