
The economic crisis abruptly ended the gradual decline in global youth unemployment rates during the period 2002–07. Since 2007 the global youth unemployment rate has started rising again, and the increase between 2008 and the height of the economic crisis in 2009 effectively wiped out much of the gains made in previous years. Globally, the youth unemployment rate has remained close to its crisis peak in 2009. At 12.6 per cent in 2011 and projected at 12.7 per cent in 2012, the global youth unemployment rate remains at least a full percentage point above its level in 2007. Nearly 75 million youth are unemployed around the world, an increase of more than 4 million since 2007. Medium-term projections (2012–16) suggest little improvement in youth labour markets. By 2016, the youth unemployment rate is projected to remain at the same high level.
The rise in part-time employment adds to the anemic creation of highly productive and well-paid jobs. The damage, if it is a decade longer or longer, will almost certainly weigh on the economy well beyond the next decade.
Douglas A. McIntyre