Countries with national goals for youth employment

Country	Country iso alpha 3 code	Region	Countries with national goals for youth employment	Additional info
Afghanistan	AFG	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Youth employment promotion in sectoral ministries.
Angola	AGO	Africa	No
Albania	ALB	Europe	Yes	National Strategy for Employment and Skills 2023-2030: supported and inclusive school-to-work transition for young people (NEET) through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee scheme. The Albanian government and institutions relevant to employment, education and training will ensure that every young person under the age of 29 (NEET) has a decent offer of employment, training or education within a reasonable period of time from the moment of identification, in line with the European Commission recommendations. Therefore, in cooperation with line ministries, a national plan for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee was designed and it provides for several reforms divided into four phases: mapping, engagement, preparation and delivery. -For the mapping phase, programs and instruments will be developed to prevent the increase in the number of NEET youth based on the information generated by the VET system; a monitoring system for early dropping-out will be established and the in-school career guidance service will be strengthened. -For the engagement phase, community-based information campaigns and campaigns applying innovative social media engagement methods will be organized in collaboration with partners and stakeholders to spread information and reach the young people in location. -During the preparation phase, new registration instruments will be developed on the NAES portal, the employment offices staff capacities will increase to serve new jobseekers, and the partnerships created between individual service providers and various other public authorities and non-public organizations to deliver more specialized services for NEET youth will be used. In order to administer and monitor the Youth Guarantee, the labour market information management system will expand to track the NEET youth journey before, during and after their inclusion in the Youth Guarantee scheme. -For the delivery phase, programs to promote employment and training will be developed and tailored such as employment supporting programs, vocational secondary, post-secondary and part-time education programs, and continuous training and internship programs to enhance basic and professional skills.
United Arab Emirates	ARE	Arab States	No
Argentina	ARG	Americas	Yes	In 2024, through the Employment Promotion Programme (Fomentar Empleo) led by the Secretariat of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Argentina implemented targeted measures to enhance employment opportunities, particularly for young people: • 146,930 individuals took part in vocational training courses. • 5,429 people developed productive or service-oriented enterprises, either individually or through cooperative ventures. • 42,587 participants engaged in work training placements or entered employment within companies as part of the programme.
Armenia	ARM	Europe	No
Antigua and Barbuda	ATG	Americas	No
Australia	AUS	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	While Australia does not currently have a single national strategy specifically dedicated to youth employment, national goals and objectives to promote youth employment are outlined in the Youth Policy Framework, which supports young people aged 15–24 to develop the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed for secure employment. Youth employment goals are also embedded across a range of targeted programs and initiatives delivered by the Australian Government, including: • Fee-Free TAFE: Removes financial barriers to vocational training in areas of high demand, with a focus on priority groups including young people. • Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System: Provides financial and non-financial support to young apprentices and their employers, particularly in priority occupations. • Workforce Australia – Transition to Work: A youth-specialist pre-employment and employment service that supports disadvantaged young people aged 15–24 who are at risk of not successfully transitioning from school to work. • Your Career website: A national digital platform offering tailored, evidence-based information on education, training, and career pathways for young people, as well as the parents, teachers, and mentors who support them.
Austria	AUT	Europe	Yes	• "Education until 18" aims to significantly reduce early dropouts from school and vocational training. • The labor market policy objectives of the Public Employment Service (PES) include: - Vocational training and labor market integration of young people, - Ensuring vocational training through apprenticeships, - Getting unemployed people into work through training. • The development of youth unemployment is continuously monitored on a monthly basis. There are no concrete national targets regarding the achievement of objectives. At the regional level, targets are set by the PES with the implementing partner organisations. Also within the PES, there are very detailed control instruments with which these targets are continuously monitored. Indicators include: - Number of unemployed people who take up an apprenticeship, - Number of unemployed people who have been registered for more than 6 months, - Measurement of labor market success and the success of training courses.
Azerbaijan	AZE	Europe	Yes	One of the main goals of the Employment Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2019-2030) is to reduce the level of unemployment among young people to a minimum and to 15% for young people who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). The Employment Strategy contains provisions for the achievement of the following goals: - Developing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; - Improving the regulatory framework on labour market regulation and integration of young people who experience difficulties in finding a job into the labour market, - Creating favourable conditions for the implementation of an effective employment policy; - Implementing measures to promote youth employment; - Expanding the scope of activities for active employment; - Developing the social dialogue; - Supporting formalization; - Developing skills and improving labour standards; - Expanding the scale and increasing the effectiveness of active labour market policies, strengthening the integration of citizens who are in particular need of social protection and who experience difficulties in finding employment into the labour market; - Reducing the unemployment rate to 4%, including minimizing the unemployment rate among women and youth.
Burundi	BDI	Africa	No
Belgium	BEL	Europe	Yes	• Brussels-Capital Region Under Objective 2.1 of the Go4Brussels 2030 Strategy, the region has set out clear targets for youth employment: ∙ Youth Guarantee: Ensure young people under 25 receive a quality offer—employment, training, apprenticeship, or internship—within four months of leaving education or unemployment. ∙ Vocational training (Bruxelles Formation): Diversify and strengthen training, delivering 3,000 training offers each year across languages, vocational qualifications, and work-study programmes (including dual learning) . ∙ Supervised internships (Actiris, Bruxelles Formation, VDAB Brussels): Provide 2,000 quality internships annually across public and private sectors. ∙ Employment support (Actiris, HUB YET network): Offer personalised support for all jobseekers under 30, aiming to place 1,500 young people each year through wage subsidies, insertion contracts, and regular job placements. • German-Speaking Community Through its 2021–2024 Employment Office Management Contract, the region implements the European Youth Guarantee, ensuring that all under-25s are offered quality employment, training, apprenticeships, or internships within ten weeks of registration, even during July and August. • Flemish Region Flanders is actively working to: ∙ Prevent early school dropout and reduce unqualified exits from education, ensuring better youth retention; ∙ Increase outreach to NEET groups ("Not in Employment, Education or Training") to support their re-integration into education or work.
Benin	BEN	Africa	Yes	Benin has set objectives to promote youth employment, focusing on both salaried and self-employment pathways. The priorities include: • Supporting job seekers in accessing both salaried employment and self-employment opportunities; • Facilitating the professional integration of 2,000 young graduates into companies; • Increasing the economic inclusion of young people aged 15 to 30 who are underemployed or inactive and have a low level of education (up to lower secondary, or BEPC level); • Strengthening employment services and the technical and vocational training system in Benin.
Burkina Faso	BFA	Africa	Yes	Burkina Faso has introduced initiatives to promote youth employment, particularly through support for entrepreneurship and the agricultural sector. Such measures include: • The promotion of community-based entrepreneurship, supported by the establishment of the Agency for the Promotion of Community Entrepreneurship (APEC); • The implementation of the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive, aimed at boosting job creation in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors.
Bangladesh	BGD	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	- Establish linkage with the relevant employers for employing the youth trained in different trades; - Extend support to youth for employment, entrepreneurship and self-employment without discrimination of faith, colour and sex; - Provide comprehensive entrepreneurship training to the interested youth; - Provide youth with low interest rate credit with soft terms; - Introduce one-stop service for youth entrepreneurs.
Bulgaria	BGR	Europe	Yes	The Employment Strategy 2021–2030 outlines tasks aimed at increasing labour supply by activating inactive and disadvantaged groups in the labour market, such as youth, the long-term unemployed, persons with disabilities, individuals over the age of 55, and early school leavers. These tasks also include targeted actions to engage young people from the NEET group (Not in Employment, Education or Training), as well as measures to support youth employment, including internships and apprenticeships. Progress in implementing these tasks will be monitored through specific indicators, including the youth unemployment rate (ages 15–29) and the relative share of NEETs within the same age group. Each year, the National Employment Action Plan identifies young people as a key target group in the labour market. Measures to support their employment are implemented within the broader context of promoting the inclusion of disadvantaged groups
Bahrain	BHR	Arab States	No
Bahamas	BHS	Americas	Yes	Promoting economic development through increased employment, self-employment, and more competitive employment opportunities for young people.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	BIH	Europe	Yes	○ Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: • The Employment Strategy (2023–2030) aims to promote decent and inclusive employment opportunities, with a particular focus on youth. One of the key expected outcomes, in the context of developing and aligning skills with labor market needs, is to increase by 20% the number of young people who have completed their education and are employed in jobs that correspond to their qualifications. ○ Republika Srpska: • The Youth Policy (2023-2027) of the Republic of Srpska includes goals and objectives to promote youth employment. • The Republic of Srpska Employment Strategy 2021-2027 has the following programmes with goals and objectives to promote youth employment: - Employment Program of Young People with University Degrees - Vocational Training Program for Persons with Acquired Higher Education 2022-2027 - The Youth Employment Program in Business Process Outsourcing 2022-2027 ○ In addition, the Youth Guarantee Program (2023-2025) established goals and objectives to promote youth employment.
Belarus	BLR	Europe	Yes	- Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Fundamentals of State Youth Policy": promotion of young people's right to work and their professional development; creation of conditions for self-realisation, free and effective participation of young people in the political, social, economic and cultural development of society; State support for talented and gifted young persons; Implementation of human resources policy for youth. - Strategy for the Development of State Youth Policy of the Republic of Belarus until 2030: introduction of new modern forms of youth employment; creation and development of universal competencies of young persons for their successful professional self-realisation; reducing (minimising) youth unemployment; improving the incentives for hiring young people; ensuring the protection of the rights of working youth; developing youth entrepreneurship, including in the social sphere. - State Programme "Education and Youth Policy" for 2021-2025: professional self-realisation, career development, youth entrepreneurship; promotion of young people's right to work, secondary employment of young people, development of the student team movement. - State Programme "Labour Market and Employment Promotion" 2021-2025: Promotion of youth employment in order to gain practical work experience.
Belize	BLZ	Americas	No
Bolivia, Plurinational State of	BOL	Americas	Yes	Bolivia has established several national objectives to promote youth employment, particularly through coordinated actions with the Plurinational Youth System. These include: • Promoting the labour market inclusion of young people in public institutions and enterprises, in coordination with the Plurinational Youth System. • Protecting and defending the socio-labour rights of working adolescents (ages 14 to 18) and young workers at their place of employment, also in coordination with the Plurinational Youth System. • Implementing labour intermediation and placement processes focused primarily on productive development sectors. • Promoting self-employment and youth entrepreneurship through job placement services and technical training, aimed at improving employability conditions and access to credit.
Brazil	BRA	Americas	Yes	Brazil promotes youth employment through the National Pact for the Productive Inclusion of Youth, which aims to advance decent work opportunities for young people. The Pact coordinates actions across different sectors to facilitate access to internships, professional apprenticeships, first job experiences, and vocational training. These initiatives are designed to support the integration of young people into the labor market, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
Barbados	BRB	Americas	Yes	The overall objective of the proposed Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy is to increase competitiveness to allow sustainable growth and poverty alleviation. This would involve building human capacity, and improving employability of Barbadians in order to reduce vulnerability among youth and to improve overall productivity.
Brunei Darussalam	BRN	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	1. National Youth Policy and Strategy under Core Strategy 3: Education, Employability and Decent Work) with strategy statement to ensure all youth have a meaningful job future and access to holistic and industry-relevant education and skills training. 2. Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) - Objective of the council is to address unemployment related issues, effectively and efficiently and the vision is to ensure effective manpower planning with alignment to employability and employment. 3. The National Youth Development Index is incorporated within the National Youth Survey which is not just to formulate the National Youth Policy but also laying down the framework for the strategic plan of a youth policy. One of the initiatives listed in the policy was the need to plan for future jobs as well as identify the skills needed to reduce unemployment and underemployment. Current score on Youth Employment and Opportunity domain is 65%(good) and expected to be increase to 75% (Very Good) in the upcoming YDI Review in 2024. The Youth Development Index continues to be one of the measurement of success of the various youth programmes. The current Brunei Darussalam Youth Development Index 2018 overall scored 65% (good). The National Youth Development Index measures the youth development in 8 domains: Self Development, Health, Employment and Opportunity, Leisure Activities, Self-Potential, Community Integration, Social Issues and Political Integration. Two domains namely health and social issues scored above 85% (very good).
Botswana	BWA	Africa	Yes	- Create employment opportunities for the youth. - Conduct youth learning exchanges both locally and internationally. - Inclusion of young people in decision making structures.
Central African Republic	CAF	Africa	Yes	No further information is available.
Canada	CAN	Americas	Yes	Canada’s national objectives to promote youth employment focus on ensuring that young people have equitable access to the skills, experiences, and opportunities needed to successfully transition into the labor market or return to (or remain in) education. Key goals include: • Job Readiness: Supporting youth in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and supports necessary to enter the workforce. • Acquire Employment: Enabling youth to attain and retain quality employment opportunities. • Career Advancement: Helping youth develop the skills required for long-term career growth and mobility. • Employer Engagement: Supporting employers in their ability to hire and retain young workers.
Switzerland	CHE	Europe	Yes	There are youth focused goals particularly in the unemployment insurance system (AC) and the "Vocational Training 2030" initiative. Under the unemployment insurance system, young jobseekers benefit from active labour market policy measures aimed at their rapid and sustainable reintegration into the labour market. These include job placement services, counselling, and targeted labour market measures (MMT), such as vocational internships specifically designed for unemployed youth. Cantonal implementation bodies can flexibly adapt these measures based on local labour market demands, and additional resources are mobilised during periods of higher unemployment. In parallel, vocational education and training (VET) plays a central role in promoting youth employment: • Under the "Vocational Training 2030" initiative, the Confederation and Cantons share the goal that 95% of all 25-year-olds should attain at least a lower secondary level qualification. • The Task Force "Apprenticeship Perspectives" was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that young people can continue to access apprenticeship opportunities and that training companies are supported in filling vacancies and maintaining training capacity. • The "Vocational Training PLUS" national campaign promotes the value of vocational education and training, underlining its importance for the economy and society. Swiss VET qualifications are aligned with labour market needs and offer flexibility and mobility through a permeable system and strong emphasis on lifelong learning.
Chile	CHL	Americas	No
China	CHN	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	The 14th Five Year Plan for Employment Promotion contains national goals and objectives to promote youth employment.
Côte d'Ivoire	CIV	Africa	No
Cameroon	CMR	Africa	Yes	Cameroon has established a range of objectives and actions to promote youth employment, as reflected in national strategies: • Developing incentives to support youth employment, as outlined in the National Development Strategy (SND30); • Strengthening the skills of young people for employment, through the National Action Plan for Youth Employment (PANEJ); • Reinforcing emergency initiatives to support the employment of youth in vulnerable or fragile situations (PANEJ); • Aligning young people's professional qualifications with labour market needs, to improve employability and job placement.
Democratic Republic of the Congo	COD	Africa	Yes	The following programmes and initiatives have specific goals and objectives to promote youth employment: - National Youth Employment Programme; - Graduate Employment Programme (PED) placed at the Public Employment Service of the DRC(ONEM); - Project for Youth Employment in the Ex-Province of Katanga placed at the Social Fund of the Republic.
Congo	COG	Africa	Yes	Under its youth component, the Accelerated National Development Plan (PND) 2022–2026 sets out the following main objectives: • To implement reforms through the enforcement of relevant legal frameworks, particularly in education, vocational training, and youth employability; • To promote youth employment and entrepreneurship; • To improve young people’s living conditions, including access to healthcare, culture, sports and leisure, and the promotion of equal opportunities.
Cook Islands	COK	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Both the National Youth Policy and the National Sustainable Development Plan have set goals and objectives to promote youth employment. There is currently a plan to implement a Youth Employment Pathway programme.
Colombia	COL	Americas	No
Comoros	COM	Africa	Yes
Cabo Verde	CPV	Africa	Yes	PEDSII: Promote social development through human capital, inclusion and mobility, reduction of inequalities, eradication of extreme poverty and gender equality, namely: - Reducing youth unemployment, - Reducing the proportion of young people 15-35 outside employment, education and training NEETs, - Increasing the participation rate of young people 15 - 35 in measures to support qualification and Employability, - Increase the proportion of young people in secondary education who follow the technical route.
Costa Rica	CRI	Americas	Yes	In Costa Rica, the National Development and Public Investment Plan (PNDIP) 2023–2026 sets out targets to promote youth employment. Costa Rica’s National Strategy for Employability and Human Talent (BRETE) aims to improve employability for at least 44,000 people annually through the National Employment System’s services. The strategy prioritises support for populations facing the greatest barriers to labour market inclusion, including: • Women (targeting at least 50% of beneficiaries); • Young people aged 15 to 24 (at least 40%); • People living in poverty and extreme poverty (at least 25%); • People with disabilities (at least 15%). Its second component focuses on directing investments and services towards those actively seeking employment but facing exclusion from the labour market, such as young people, women, individuals with low qualifications, migrants, and others, following prioritisation mechanisms established by the National Employment System.
Cuba	CUB	Americas	Yes	Cuba’s approach to promoting youth employment includes the Decent Work Programme and the implementation of territorial employment management services.
Cyprus	CYP	Europe	Yes	- By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value (European Commission). - By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training (European Commission). - The Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus (HRDA), on the basis of its legal framework and Strategic Plan, implements a wide range of activities for the training and development of the human resources of Cyprus, providing employees and the unemployed with the opportunity of acquiring new or upgrading existing knowledge and skills. -The integration of the unemployed and inactive into employment, with particular attention to groups which are at risk of exclusion from the labour market such as young people, through the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Department of Labour of 2023-2025. - The National Reform Program (NRP) 2022 has the goal 3.6. focused on " Addressing labour market, education and skills, and social challenges" and more specifically, "3.6.1 Taking measures to tackle youth unemployment and the high rate of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs)"
Czech Republic	CZE	Europe	Yes	• Supporting young jobseekers by delivering high-quality employment services and ensuring they receive timely and relevant offers of employment, education, training, or apprenticeships. • A major focus is on improving access to employment and activation measures for all jobseekers, with young people as a key target group. • The country's goals are consistent with the Council of the EU Recommendation on establishing a Youth Guarantee (2013) and its reinforced version, "A Bridge to Jobs" (2020), which the Czech Republic continues to implement.
Germany	DEU	Europe	Yes	The Federal Government's Skilled Labour Strategy 2021-2025
Djibouti	DJI	Africa	Yes	Djibouti has established several institutional mechanisms to promote youth employment, including: • The National Agency for Employment, Integration and Vocational Training; • The Labour and Social Laws Inspectorate; • The National Institute of Public Administration; • The establishment of a Multisectoral Coordination Committee to ensure coherence and synergy across youth employment initiatives.
Dominica	DMA	Americas	Yes	Dominica Youth Business Trust Goals - To develop a successful program for the facilitation of youth business in Dominica. - To assist in the increase of the number of young people in Dominica going into business. - To improve the quality of service, support and assistance accorded to Dominican youth. (DYBT Strategic Plan) Youth Skills Training Programme Strategic Objectives- Skills Training programmes to meet the skills development and employment need of young people. (Youth Development Strategic Plan 2020-2025) Dynamic Dominica 1. 4.22 Youth - implement Youth Policy, new jobs and training, technically driven economy, increased entertainment and recreational opportunities, Learn Where You Are programme, tax reduction in first 6 months (Dynamic Dominica. DLP Manifesto 2019)
Denmark	DNK	Europe	Yes	The overall aim of both the Youth Pledge and the Agreement on "More Young People in Leisure Jobs" is to reduce the number of unemployed young people by offering targeted, age-specific support and strengthening young people's connection to the labour market.
Dominican Republic	DOM	Americas	Yes	The Multiannual Public Sector Plan includes a policy on Decent, Formal, and Adequate Employment, which identifies the promotion of youth employment in the formal economy as one of its national objectives. The policy has been formally approved, although it has not yet been published. Its implementation is scheduled for the period 2025–2028.
Algeria	DZA	Africa	No
Ecuador	ECU	Americas	Yes	The National Development Plan for the New Ecuador aims to reduce the youth unemployment rate (ages 19 to 29) from 9.29% in 2022 to 8.00% by 2025. Additionally, linked to the National Development Plan, the Sectoral Labour Plan 2021–2025 sets a target for the Public Employment Service of the Ministry of Labour to place 180,000 young people aged 18 to 29 into formal employment contracts by 2025.
Egypt	EGY	Africa	Yes	The government’s program emanating from Egypt’s Vision 2030 includes five strategic goals, and the promotion of employment levels is the fourth strategic goal, which contains a set of main and subsidiary programs, and under these programs there are a set of projects and initiatives to promote youth employment, including, for example: 1. Employment forums held annually by Egyptian universities in cooperation with the private sector. 2. Providing soft loans for young people through the National Project for Human and Social Development (Mashroa’ak -Your Project) funded by Egyptian banks. 3. Providing loans for the implementation of micro-projects in the governorates for youth and female breadwinners, with a value of about EGP100 million, and providing about 20 thousand job opportunities. 4. Expanding the establishment of entrepreneurship centers and programs to link the industry and the labor market. 5. Establishing 200 business incubators annually, and designing programs and curricula for schools and universities for entrepreneurship training, targeting 5,000 young people annually. 6. Women's economic empowerment through the (One Village, One Product) program to provide 10,000 job opportunities for young graduates.
Eritrea	ERI	Africa	Yes	Youth are beneficiaries in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare five-year strategic plan.
Spain	ESP	Europe	Yes	The Youth Guarantee Plus Plan (Plan de Garantía Juvenil Plus) addresses challenges affecting youth employment and labour market integration: • Improving access to the Plan and increasing its visibility, particularly among inactive, low-skilled, and more vulnerable young people. • Continuing to strengthen and deepen inter-institutional coordination. • Consolidating partnerships with the private sector and local authorities. • Continuously improving the quality and relevance of training, especially in the technological and green sectors. • Identifying new employment opportunities in sectors with growth potential. • Reducing the high rate of early school and training dropout. • Maintaining and enhancing the system of evaluation and monitoring. • Further reinforcing personalised guidance and counselling programmes. The evaluation of the Youth Guarantee Plus Plan is currently being carried out in collaboration with the OECD.
Estonia	EST	Europe	Yes	The Welfare Development Plan 2023–2030 outlines national objectives related to the labour market under Sub-goal 2: Labour Market and Working Life. It aims to: • Ensure better matching of labour supply and demand to support high employment levels. • Promote sustainable and adaptable employment policies in response to social and economic changes. • Support structural economic shifts and enhance labour mobility. • Prevent the transition from temporary to permanent incapacity for work and encourage job retention. • Improve working conditions, promote occupational health and safety, and strengthen industrial relations.
Ethiopia	ETH	Africa	No
Finland	FIN	Europe	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment are stated at the Government Programme "Inclusive and competent Finland - a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable society": -Each young under 25 and graduate under 30 will be offered employment, training, apprenticeship or rehabilitation within 3months from registering as an unemployed. - Outreach youth work: The target is that the service is available throughout the country and that service responds to the needs of youth (information collected with a specific tool). - Increasing the proportion of young unemployed jobseekers who have received a quality offer within 3 months of registering unemployed.
Fiji	FJI	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment are under the National Youth Policy and the National Employment Policy. National Youth Policy - Policy Area 2: Education, skills and employment: - Ensure range of pathways for youth to enter workforce: ensure that a range of pathways and programmes exist for youth to transition to the workforce, including apprenticeships, technical-vocational education, non-formal education, higher education and linkages with the private sector and ensure that all pathways provide youth with quality skills that are relevant to the labour market –programmes should be accessible to all youth; - Ensure day care is available to enable young women into the workforce: ensure that affordable, quality day-care services are available across the country to enable young women to participate in the labour force, and that the barriers to women and in particular single mothers to accessing the labour market are knownand addressed; - Develop innovation among youth: develop accessible innovation hubs and strengthen support to small business enterprises to support and mentor youth, particularly in technology-related fields, including through peer mentorship, in entrepreneurship and job sourcing and creation, including through training, financing schemes and mentorship programmes; - Develop labour market social protection programmes: develop labour market social protection programmes for youth, including public infrastructure programmes, particularly targeted at income generation in rural and maritime areas; and - Strengthen links to youth diaspora: build and strengthen linkages with the youth diaspora to support the development of targeted youth programmes in education, employment and entrepreneurship.
France	FRA	Europe	Yes	France has set clear national objectives to promote youth employment through structured programs, legal commitments, and substantial financial incentives. 1. Youth Engagement Contract (Contrat d'engagement jeune – CEJ): Implemented since March 1, 2022, by the national public employment service and local missions (missions locales), the CEJ aims to guide young people (particularly those most distant from the labor market) toward sustainable employment. This policy is part of the broader legal framework on the right to employment and autonomy support, established in the Labour Code. • The CEJ targets young people aged 16 to 25 (extended to 29 for those with disabilities) who are not in employment, education, or training and are ready to engage in an intensive support process. • Building on the former Youth Guarantee program and aligned with the #1youth1solution (#1Jeune1Solution) plan, the CEJ offers individualized, intensive support through a single caseworker and includes a minimum of 15 hours of weekly activities (e.g. training, workshops, internships). • From March 1, 2022, to December 5, 2024, a total of 869,021 young people entered the CEJ program. 2. National policy to promote apprenticeships: France has adopted an ambitious apprenticeship policy supported by generous financial incentives for employers: • From 2020 to 2022, recruitment bonuses ranged from €5,000 to €8,000 per apprenticeship contract, depending on the age of the apprentice. • In 2023, a flat-rate hiring incentive of €6,000 per apprentice contract was introduced, regardless of age. • As of the end of September 2024, 1,007,099 individuals were enrolled in apprenticeship contracts, a 3.0% increase over the previous year and more than tripling since 2017. 3. Mandatory education or training for youth aged 16 - 18: Introduced by Law No. 2019-791 of July 26, 2019, “For a School of Trust,” this measure took effect in September 2020. Its preventive objective is to ensure that no young person leaves the education system without qualifications or basic skills. • Local missions (missions locales) are tasked with monitoring and ensuring compliance with this training obligation, in collaboration with a network of institutional partners. • Approximately 60,000 youth aged 16–18 are concerned by this provision.
Gabon	GAB	Africa	No
United Kingdom	GBR	Europe	Yes	England: • To deliver a Youth Guarantee, that enables all 18-21 year olds in England to have access to education, training or help to find a job or an apprenticeship. All other young people will have access to the existing DWP Youth Offer to support routes into work related training, an apprenticeship or employment. Wales: • In December 2021, Welsh Ministers set National indicators and national milestones for Wales , including a National Milestone that at least 90% of 16-24 year olds will be in education, employment, or training by 2050. Scotland: • The aim of the Developing the Young Workforce strategy is to help all school leavers to access the transition support they need to ensure that every young person can further their education or secure a job or training place.
Georgia	GEO	Europe	Yes	Georgia has defined clear national objectives to promote youth employment, focusing particularly on decent work and youth entrepreneurship, supported by strategic reforms in vocational education and cross-sector collaboration. National goals include: • Supporting decent and quality employment for young people; • Promoting youth entrepreneurship. Vocational Education Strategy 2024–2030 - This strategy positions youth development as a critical pillar of Georgia’s socio-economic progress. It focuses on preparing young people for the modern labor market by: • Equipping them with market-relevant skills aligned with globalization, technological advancement, and the transition to green and digital economies; • Improving the quality of vocational education and training (VET) through curriculum updates, teacher training, and performance standards; • Modernizing infrastructure and integrating innovative teaching methods and technologies; • Enhancing access to lifelong learning and employability. Partnerships - the strategy emphasizes cooperation between: • Educational institutions, • Industry stakeholders, • Government agencies.
Ghana	GHA	Africa	Yes	• The Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in Productive Sectors (YESp) programme focuses on enhancing youth employability and entrepreneurship in key economic sectors, particularly agriculture, digital technology, and light manufacturing. • The National Youth Policy (2022–2032) outlines strategic goals to empower young people through skills development, job creation, and active participation in the economy. • The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) implements various schemes to provide temporary and sustainable employment opportunities for young people, with a focus on skills training and job placement. • The National Employment Policy also includes youth as a core target group, with objectives focused on improving access to decent and productive work, especially in sectors with high potential for job creation.
Guinea	GIN	Africa	No
Gambia	GMB	Africa	Yes	-Policy harmonization and coherence in order to create a conducive environment for employment creation. -Promote skills development and employability. -Ensure gender equality and inclusion of marginalized groups in all areas of employment. -Improve working conditions. -Create a conducive environment for private sector employment creation. -Facilitate the transition to decent work and formality. -Improve and widen social protection. -Strengthen labour market information systems. -Strengthen labour administration and social dialogue
Guinea - Bissau	GNB	Africa	Yes	No further information is available.
Equatorial Guinea	GNQ	Africa	Yes	No further information is available.
Greece	GRC	Europe	Yes	The Revised Greek Youth Guarantee Action Plan aims to increase employment for young people aged 16 to 29, who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) by offering them targeted employment, education, training and apprenticeship options.
Grenada	GRD	Americas	Yes	At a national level, several projects and programmes have been adopted with the aim of promoting youth employment. Among these, there is the New IMANI Programme; the MPower Programme; Project 3. Project Fostering Level-Headed youth (FLY); 4. Project Actively Committed and Empowered (ACE) and the Yutbiz project which focuses on micro-finance.
Guatemala	GTM	Americas	Yes	Guatemala promotes youth employment through several policies and programmes, most notably: • The National Policy for Decent Employment 2017–2032, whose general objective is to expand opportunities so that men and women in Guatemala can access decent and productive employment. This is pursued through an integrated approach combining economic and social policy, and the participation of both public and private sectors, with the goal of fostering inclusive and sustainable growth while reducing poverty and inequality, particularly among indigenous peoples, rural populations, women, and young people. • The National Youth Policy, which aims to ensure the full and dignified individual, community, social, and political development of Guatemalan youth. • The My First Job Scholarship Programme, which plans to support 1,000 young people in 2025 through employment scholarships. • The programme also includes job placement and intermediation services to connect young people with employers via the My First Job (Mi Primer Empleo) platform. • Technical training scholarships implemented by the Training and Education Section (SECAFOR) of the Ministry of Labour. • Job placement services linking young people with employers through the "Tu Empleo" platform. The Ministry of Education (MINEDUC): Through its training initiatives, MINEDUC has set a target to train 10,000 people, with the following focus groups: • 75% aged between 14 and 29 • 60% from rural areas • 50% women • 25% from indigenous communities • 5% persons with disabilities
Guyana	GUY	Americas	No
Honduras	HND	Americas	No
Croatia	HRV	Europe	Yes	Croatia has established clear national goals and objectives to promote youth employment through multiple strategic frameworks. The National Plan for Labour, Occupational Health and Safety and Employment (2021–2027) emphasizes increasing the activity rate of the working-age population, with a particular focus on young people in NEET status (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Key objectives include: • Improving the system of lifelong professional guidance for youth; • Ensuring the continued implementation of the Youth Guarantee; • Developing support systems for integrating inactive youth into the labour market. Under Priority 4 of the Plan, “Increasing the activity of the working-age population,” Specific Goal 4 aims to improve access to the labour market for unemployed and inactive individuals. This directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including young people and persons with disabilities.” One of the key measures under this goal—Measure 4.4—targets the inclusion of NEET youth in the labour market. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan (2021–2026) further supports youth employment by prioritizing labour market activation in its Component 4: Labour Market and Social Protection. In response to declining economic activity, this component outlines goals such as: • Increasing the employment rate to 70% by 2024; • Creating conditions for at least 100,000 new jobs, with a focus on youth and the self-employed; • Enhancing social cohesion, combating poverty, and protecting vulnerable groups. Additionally, the National Program for Youth (2023–2025) includes Measure 3.3.2: Empowering unemployed youth not in education or training. This measure will be implemented through public calls for proposals to fund youth organizations and initiatives that: • Enhance the skills, knowledge, and employability of NEET youth; • Improve their competitiveness in the labour market; • Promote social inclusion.
Haiti	HTI	Americas	No
Hungary	HUN	Europe	Yes	Hungary has set clear national objectives to promote employment, including for youth, through targeted priorities under the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme Plus (EDIOP Plus). 1. EDIOP Plus – Priorities 3 and 4: These priorities outline strategic interventions aimed at labor market integration and adaptability: • Integration and reintegration of approximately 160,000 individuals into the primary labor market by 2027/2029. • Support for 110,000 workers to help them adjust to labor market demands, through services such as training, upskilling, or job placement assistance. 2. Youth Focus under Priority 4 – Youth Guarantee targets young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs), aiming to: • Facilitate their transition into employment or training, • Ensure access to personalized support and services, • Provide offers of employment or training within four months of registration through the National Employment Service.
Indonesia	IDN	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Each officially adopted document for youth employment has goals or objectives. For example, the Annual Government Work Plan 2024, the policy direction and strategy for improving the quality of youth is focused on: 1. Strengthening coordination across youth service sectors, especially central and regional synergy, including encouraging the acceleration of the preparation of regulations at the regional level as well as monitoring and evaluating their implementation in an integrated process; 2. Increasing the active participation of area-based youth in a safe and meaningful manner, including in innovation and technology-based entrepreneurship; and 3. Preventing risky behaviour among youth, including preventing the dangers of violence, bullying, intolerance, drug abuse, alcoholism, the spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. While policy to improve youth competitiveness is focus on: 1. Increasing the distribution of quality educational services; 2. Improving TVET system based on industry collaboration; 3. Developing world-class labour market information system; 4. Developing adaptive and innovative study programs and curricula.
India	IND	Asia and the Pacific	No
Ireland	IRL	Europe	Yes	Pathways to Work 2021-2025 includes a series of measures to improve employment outcomes for young people (aged under 30). The Intreo Employment Service delivers these measures by: • Providing an intensive model of engagement with young people profiled as being at risk of long-term unemployment. The frequency of engagement with a case officer has increased from once a month to once a fortnight, to provide enhanced support to this priority cohort. • Providing early access to the JobsPlus recruitment subsidy for employers who a hire young jobseeker under the age of 30, including those from minority groups. • Delivering the Early Engagement Initiative for young people in receipt of a disability payment - ensuring those who wish to work or access education and training, get the necessary support to do so. This process is entirely voluntary and is being implemented in line with principles agreed with stakeholders. • Ring-fencing additional places on State Employment Programmes (Community Employment and Tús) for long term unemployed young people. • Delivering activities under the Youth Employment and Engagement Charter, with a target of signing up 300 employers by December 2025. • Delivering tailored job promotion and local recruitment events for young jobseekers where reskilling and upskilling and apprenticeship options are outlined, and referrals made to the Education and Training Boards. • Providing advice and support on employment, training and personal development opportunities, on a voluntary basis, to lone parents who wish to take up work. • Targeting that at least 40% of Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) places, per annum until end 2025, are taken up by young people. The WPEP provides direct industry experience and includes a learning and development plan. Since its commencement in July 2021, some 1,103 WPEP participants had commenced their programme (by end June 2024). Approximately 46 per cent of these were young jobseekers (under 30 years). • On foot of a review, the WPEP is now open to young people unemployed for 4 months, bringing the eligibility criteria in line with Ireland’s commitments under the Youth Guarantee. Further, the Programme is being expanded to provide a gateway to formal apprenticeship opportunities for priority groups. The aim of this measure is to give employers the opportunity to test the suitability of a young person for an apprenticeship role. It is anticipated this will be most beneficial for the construction sector.
Iran, Islamic Republic of	IRN	Asia and the Pacific	No
Iraq	IRQ	Arab States	Yes	According to the government of Iraq, two overall national goals and objectives seek to promote youth employment: 1. Provision of loans under The Support of Small Income-Generating Project Law N. (10), 2012; 2. Development of the skills of workers in the public and private sectors.
Iceland	ISL	Europe	No
Israel	ISR	Europe	Yes	A national goal is to reduce the number of NEETs, and to strengthen youth in the periphery Arab region, young Ethiopian immigrants, ultraorthodox youth and the integration of women in the hi-tech sector.
Italy	ITA	Europe	Yes	Overall, the national objective is to face youth unemployment by integrating young people into the labor market, supporting transitions between education and employment (through the National Operational Program Systems of active employment policies in conjunction with the Regional Operational Programs). In addition to reduce the number of NEETs (through the National Youth Employment Initiative and the Youth Guarantee Program). Furthermore, to promote the employability of young people through the dissemination of work-based learning (PNRR) through the GOL Program and Plan Dual System In addition to systemic actions, innovative and targeted actions have been identified to facilitate the implementation of Youth Guarantee measures, including the setting up of youth information points (infopoints, informagiovani, youth corners). Taking into account the priorities of local planning and in compliance with the organisational model of employment services at regional level, a panel of actions for young people was identified, such as: - Orientation - training - Recruitment and training - Accompaniment to work - Apprenticeships - Extra-curricular traineeships (also in geographical mobility) - Civil service (also in another EU country) - Self-entrepreneurship support - Professional mobility within the national territory or in EU countries - NEET Employment Incentives
Jamaica	JAM	Americas	Yes	The National Youth Service (NYS) merged with the HEART NSTA Trust since 2019. The focus is geared towards ensuring that no Jamaican youth is left behind or unattached from institutions of learning and training and personal development. National Youth Policy 2017-30: Priority area #3: Employment and Entrepreneurship: Goal # 3: Increased Youth Access to Employment and Entrepreneurship Opportunities. To achieve the desired goal, the policy outlines the following strategic objectives: 1. Promote skills development for youth employment in the context of globalization and technological innovation; 2. Promote designation of funds to enable employment among vulnerable groups including youth with disabilities, young women and street youth; 3. Promote through policy formulation an enabling environment for employment of youth and youth with special needs – youth with varied abilities 4. Promote the Decent Work Agenda to ensure employability of the youth; 5. Promote professionalization of youth workers 6. Increase access to and the availability of labour market information; 7. Improve monitoring mechanisms to ensure that education and vocational training are responsive to the changing demand for skills in the labour market. 8. Provide expanded training programmes in priority growth-related industries - to include, logistics, business process outsourcing, information and communication technologies, cultural and creative industries, agribusiness and energy; 9. Strengthen avenues for providing work experience/apprenticeship for youth 10. Establish an enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship, especially in agricultural and sport. Vision 2030 Medium Term Framework Socio-Economic Policy Framework(National, Sector & Priority Strategies): 1. National Strategy 1-1: Maintain a Stable Population a. Sector Strategies: i. Strengthen the Policy and Strategic Framework for Coordinated Youth Development Action Across the Island ii. Strengthen national capacity for the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable youth to enhance life chances and reduce engagement in anti-social behaviours b. Priority Strategies and Actions for FY2018/2019 -- FY2020/2021 i. Promulgate National Youth Policy 2017-2030 and coordinate ii. Advance Implementation of the Learn, Earn, Give and Save (LEGS) Programme iii. Advance implementation of the National Unattached Youth Programme (NUYP) 2. National Strategy 2-3: Ensure that the Secondary School System Equips School Leavers to Access Further Education, Training and/or Decent Work a. Sector Strategy: Provide multiple pathways to equip each school leaver to transition into higher education and/or the world of work i. Complete implementation of employability skills/finishing school programme to support emerging sectors such as Global Shares services (BPO) ii. Establish World Skills Club in secondary schools to facilitate School-to-Work Transition 3. National Strategy 2-7: Ensure that Adequate and High Quality Tertiary Education is provided with an Emphasis on the Interface with Work and School 4. National Strategy 2-8: Expand Mechanisms to Provide Access to Education and Training for All, including Unattached Youth a. Sector Strategy: Improve access to training and increase the range of training programmes for underserved youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs) i. Expand the National Service Corps Programme
Jordan	JOR	Arab States	Yes	-Education and training and entrepreneurship support (NFEE program). -Employment of youth (especially NEET) in the National Service Program, with technical and military training.
Japan	JPN	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Japan’s Basic Policy on Youth Employment sets national objectives focused on the stabilization of youth employment and the improvement of working conditions for young people. The policy aims to ensure smooth transitions from school to work, reduce youth unemployment and underemployment, and promote decent work opportunities. These goals are also supported by complementary frameworks such as: • The 11th Basic Plan for the Development of Vocational Abilities (2022–2027), which promotes lifelong learning and vocational skill development for youth. • Youth Employment Promotion Act initiatives, including the encouragement of stable employment contracts and improved recruitment practices for young job seekers.
Kazakhstan	KAZ	Europe	No
Kenya	KEN	Africa	Yes	Kenya has set national goals and objectives that directly or indirectly promote youth employment: • The government is increasing allocations to affirmative action funds, such as the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, to enhance youth access to credit and resources. This is aimed at supporting youth-led enterprise development and self-employment. • Kenya has set a national goal to create 1.2 million jobs annually. While this target is not exclusive to youth, it is highly relevant given that approximately 1 million young people enter the labour market each year, and youth represent over 35% of the population. As such, youth are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of national job creation efforts.
Kyrgyzstan	KGZ	Europe	Yes	Kyrgyzstan's National Development Program until 2026 sets a target to reduce the overall unemployment rate to 5% by 2026, which includes addressing youth unemployment through various economic and employment initiatives.
Cambodia	KHM	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Cambodia has defined national goals to promote youth employment, led by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) in close collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Kiribati	KIR	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	• National Youth Policy Framework 2018–2022: This policy outlines strategic areas such as education and skills development, economic participation, health and safety, and social cohesion, aiming to provide young people with opportunities to develop vocational and life skills, explore employment opportunities, and promote healthy lifestyles. • Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs (MWYSSA) Strategic Plan 2024–2027: This plan focuses on strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs to deliver gender- and youth-sensitive services, enhancing youth participation in community development, and integrating youth considerations across national development planning. • Government Manifesto: The Kiribati Government Manifesto includes provisions to provide support allowances for unemployed young people, aiming to reduce youth unemployment and support their economic participation.
Saint Kitts and Nevis	KNA	Americas	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment are outlined in the National Development Planning Framework (2023–2037). The framework specifically identifies strategies and actions aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young people, enhancing skills development, and supporting youth integration into the labour market: • Adopting a national employment strategy that addresses the issue of youth unemployment and the phenomenon of working poor. • Linking youth/community volunteer service programming to an accredited quality of world of work preparation and certification system • Ensure youth people financial inclusion and equitable access to financial services requires to secure micro and small enterprises, investments, land and home acquisition. • Educate and sensitize youth about their rights and create avenues for them to be active agents of rights-based employment consistent with ILO standards and local applicable laws and policies. • Ensure youth leadership and other training includes capacity building about labour rights and social protection issues. • Promote partnerships between trade unions and youth networks. • Protect the rights of youth on remand and ensure that they have access to education and other psychosocial therapies, and they can gain experience with paid/legal employment. • Create special tax and other concessions for youth-lead entrepreneurs Dedicated facility to ensure comprehensive support to youth led businesses. • Support youth business ventures, youth led social enterprises in tourism.
Korea, Republic of	KOR	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	The primary objectives of each policy measure are adapted according to the current employment and economic conditions. For example, the “Measures for Promotion of Youth Entry into the Labor Market,” announced in November 2023, provide targeted support tailored to different stages -undergraduates, employed youth, and job seekers- focusing especially on vulnerable groups such as economically inactive youth, categorized by their specific needs.
Kuwait	KWT	Arab States	No
Lao People's Democratic Republic	LAO	Asia and the Pacific	Yes
Lebanon	LBN	Arab States	No
Liberia	LBR	Africa	Yes	- Increasing access to integrated services for youth and young adults, - Increasing access to youth employment through vocational education and training for youth, - Achieving a more inclusive and higher quality education, TVET and adult learning.
Libya	LBY	Africa	No
Saint Lucia	LCA	Americas	No
Sri Lanka	LKA	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Youth employment is one of the key strategic areas of intervention described in the Sri Lanka National Youth Policy. National goals include: - Improving the equal accessibility, relevance and effectiveness of the education system; - Ensuring that education provides the knowledge and basic skills so as to facilitate the transition from education to work; - Improving the relevance and effectiveness of the training system at various skills levels for needed occupations; and - Ensuring the training system is sensitive, readily responsive and flexible to changing labour market needs.
Lesotho	LSO	Africa	No
Lithuania	LTU	Europe	Yes	Lithuania has established national goals and objectives to promote youth employment, embedded across several national and EU-aligned policy frameworks: 1. Programme for the EU Funds' Investments 2021–2027: • Objective 4.1: Increase access to employment and activation measures, with a focus on young people, the long-term unemployed, vulnerable groups, and the economically inactive. This includes promoting self-employment and the social economy, particularly through implementation of the Youth Guarantee Initiative. • Objective 4.7: Promote active inclusion, equal opportunities, and non-discrimination, with a special emphasis on improving employability for disadvantaged groups, including youth. 2. Programme of the 19th Government of the Republic of Lithuania: • Paragraph 50 states the government’s commitment to using national and EU instruments to encourage youth employment and entrepreneurship, aiming for smooth integration into the labor market and fostering economic value creation by young people. 3. Strategic Action Plan (2024–2026) – Ministry of Social Security and Labour: • Priority No. 4: "Effective Employment Policy" • Includes implementation of the "Increasing of Employment" programme, which aims to expand employment opportunities for job seekers, including youth, and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the employment support system. 4. National Youth Policy Action Plan 2023–2027: • Focuses on NEET prevention, summer employment programmes for young people, and career guidance to support informed transitions into the labor market. 5. Youth Guarantee Implementation Action Plan (2025–2029): • Aims to fully implement the Youth Guarantee for young people aged 15–29.
Luxembourg	LUX	Europe	Yes	Luxembourg has defined national goals and objectives to promote youth employment both within its broader youth strategy and through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee and ESF+ programme. 1. National Youth Action Plan (to 2025): This plan outlines strategic objectives aimed at enhancing youth well-being across three main areas: • Promoting well-being at school; • Supporting well-being within youth work and socio-educational structures; • Empowering youth voice and fostering partnerships through stronger networking among stakeholders. 2. Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan Luxembourg aligns with the EU Council Recommendation of 22 April 2013, which ensures that all young people under 25 receive a quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. Key national objectives include: • Facilitating smooth transitions into employment; • Providing targeted support to vulnerable youth facing multiple barriers to labor market entry; • Ensuring long-term stable employment and reducing the risk of precarity. 3. European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021–2027: Under Specific Objective ESO4.1, ESF+ in Luxembourg aims to: • Improve access to employment and activation measures for all jobseekers, with a particular focus on young people, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee.
Latvia	LVA	Europe	Yes	Latvia has established national goals and objectives to promote youth employment across several strategic documents. These objectives are aligned with broader social protection, labor market development, and youth inclusion priorities. 1. Social Protection and Labour Market Policy Guidelines 2021–2027 - This policy framework outlines goals to improve labor market integration and social inclusion, including: • Reducing the share of young people aged 15–24 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) as a key indicator of progress. 2. Latvian National Development Plan 2021–2027 - This high-level strategic plan includes youth-specific labor market indicators, such as: • Employment rate of recent graduates (aged 20–34) from secondary and higher education (within 1–3 years of graduation); • Reduction in the NEET rate among 15–24-year-olds, reinforcing youth activation as a development priority. 3. Child, Youth and Family Development Guidelines 2022–2027 - This youth-focused strategy sets targeted goals related to labor market participation and civic engagement, including: • Reducing the proportion of NEETs among 15–24-year-olds; • Ensuring that young people aged 15–24 represent at least the same proportion in active labor market policy measures as their share of the total registered unemployed; • Promoting regular volunteering among youth as a means of developing transferable skills and social capital.
Morocco	MAR	Africa	Yes	Morocco’s youth employment strategy has evolved through several frameworks. The National Employment Promotion Plan (PNPE) 2017–2021 set five clear objectives, including the creation of 1.2 million job opportunities, improving youth employability through 1 million short-term training placements, incentivising formal employment for over 500,000 jobseekers, supporting 20,000 entrepreneurial projects, and maintaining a labour force participation rate above 46%. In 2022, the government launched the PN2E35—a new employment and entrepreneurship policy aligned with the New Development Model (NMD). It aims to: • Accelerate job creation and preserve existing jobs; • Improve access to employment; • Enhance job quality (for both salaried and self-employed work), with a strong regional focus. The 2025 Finance Bill introduces additional measures, such as extending training-insertion contracts to non-graduates, increasing apprenticeship coverage to 100,000 annually, supporting job-generating investments, strengthening MSMEs, and mitigating drought-related employment impacts in rural areas.
Moldova, Republic of	MDA	Europe	No	Improve the inclusion of NEET in education and in the labour market. Improve the transition from school to work of youth trough: - Vocational training - On-the-job training - Traineeship - Supporting self-employment
Madagascar	MDG	Africa	Yes	The main objectives to promote youth employment include: • Creating decent jobs for young people; • Promoting youth entrepreneurship; • Providing vocational training for young people.
Maldives, Republic of	MDV	Asia and the Pacific	No
Mexico	MEX	Americas	Yes	The Youth Building the Future Programme establishes the following goals: 1. To integrate young people into on-the-job training activities and thus equip them with the tools for a better life. 2. To give young people the opportunity to access university studies. 3. To steer young people away from unemployment and the path of anti-social behaviour. 4. Accelerate the preparation of a pool of young people for productive activities, in anticipation of further economic growth in the near future. 5. Include the private sector in socially responsible activities for the productive development of young people.
Marshall Islands	MHL	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment are found in the following national plans and strategies: 1. Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) National Youth Policy 2021-2025 2. RMI Youth Corps Act 2016 3. RMI National Action Plan 2017-2019 4. RMI National Strategic Plan 2020-2030 5. RMI Agenda 2020 6. Industrial Development Act
North Macedonia	MKD	Europe	Yes	The national goal that is part of the national strategy for employment 2021-2027 is decreasing the unemployment rate for youth (aged 15-29 years old) to 23,7% by 2027. Additional goals and objectives through the Implementation of the Youth Guarantee plan.
Mali	MLI	Africa	No
Malta	MLT	Europe	Yes	The Youth Guarantee 3.0 aims to support young people in their transition into the workforce. These objectives are: • Providing reskilling and upskilling opportunities through modular training programs tailored to emerging sectors, • Designing tailored interventions that address the specific needs of different youth cohorts, including those furthest from the labour market; • Facilitating mobility and learning experiences through the ALMA initiative, allowing young individuals to explore diverse employment and training pathways aligned with their aspirations; • Supporting smoother transitions from education to employment by offering targeted programs that develop relevant skills, work experience, and career readiness.
Myanmar	MMR	Asia and the Pacific	No
Montenegro	MNE	Europe	Yes	National Youth Strategy 2023-2027: - Operational objective 3, improvement of the position of unemployed persons on the labor market through the efficiency of services for the labor market and measures of active employment policies and strengthening of social inclusion and poverty reduction - Objective 3.3 Implementation of services and measures of active employment policies in order to improve the position of young people on the labor market - Youth took active participation through the process of drafting and adopting National Youth Strategy and young men and women are recognized as target group in the Strategy and its Action Plan Additional goals in the National Employment Strategy (2021-2025).
Mongolia	MNG	Asia and the Pacific	No
Mozambique	MOZ	Africa	Yes	• Encouraging youth entrepreneurship through targeted training programs, with special emphasis on rural areas, combined with improved access to credit and ongoing support for young entrepreneurs. • Investing in skills development and training, both domestically and abroad, for youth in emerging sectors, particularly those linked to new technologies and evolving professions. • Expanding opportunities for pre-professional internships to enhance practical experience and ease the transition into the labor market. • Promoting the establishment of business incubators aimed specifically at supporting young entrepreneurs and startups.
Mauritania	MRT	Africa	Yes	National goals to promote youth employment are outlined in the National Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity, the National Employment Strategy, and the National Strategy for the Promotion of Micro and Small Enterprises (MPE).
Mauritius	MUS	Africa	Yes	Mauritius’s National Employment Policy 2024–2028 outlines strategic policy axes and objectives focused on reducing youth unemployment. Key priorities include aligning education and training with labour market needs, expanding job opportunities in emerging sectors, and promoting inclusive, decent work. These strategies aim to better prepare young people for the world of work and ensure equitable access to employment opportunities.
Malawi	MWI	Africa	Yes	The National Youth Policy includes the goal to increase youth employment and enterprise development opportunities through enhanced access to productive assets, business support services and responsive regulatory frameworks. Other national goals include: 1. Promote review of education curricula that are responsive to skills demands of the industry and other sectors that underline the spirit, skills and infrastructural capacities for innovation, entrepreneurship and decent job creation; 2. Advocate for increased access to quality Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship training institutions for skills development and innovation especially targeting the youth not in education, employment and training (NEET); 3. Encourage youth engagement in the agricultural sector through increased mechanization and formation of youth-led agriculture hubs, clubs, cooperatives and companies; 4. Incentivise youth engagement in agriculture through provision of licences, soft loans, start-up capital, tool kits and tax exemptions on agricultural tools and machinery; v. Promote youth engagement in non-traditional sectors such as Energy, Mining, Transport, Tourism, Hospitality and Food industries through youth-owned enterprises and cooperatives; 5. Institutionalise the National Internship, Volunteerism and Apprenticeship programmes to facilitate skills transfer as a means to smooth entry into the labour market in rural and urban areas; 6. Facilitate access and provision of appropriate and responsive support services towards Youth Enterprise Development; and 7. Establish mechanisms that support and engage the youth working in the diaspora to participate in national development.
Malaysia	MYS	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Malaysia’s national goals to promote youth employment focus on reducing unemployment, enhancing employability, and ensuring fair workforce practices. Key initiatives include: • Reducing Youth Unemployment: Creating job opportunities and improving employability through apprenticeships and targeted programmes. • Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) outcomes: Increasing salaries and employability of TVET graduates through industry-aligned training. • Ensuring Fair Workforce Practices: advocating equitable treatment and recognition of youth in the workforce. • Expanding Apprenticeship: Offering hands-on experience to prepare youth for real-world work environments. • Boosting Employability and Marketability through soft skills development, on-the-job training, and exposure to workplace demands. • Aligning Youth Skills with Technological Advancements via reskilling and upskilling under initiatives like the HRD Corp Claimable Scheme, which prepares young people for opportunities in the digital and green economies. • Supporting Career Development through Budget 2024 Initiatives, such as structured career pathways for gig workers and the establishment of a National Career Placement Centre to connect graduates and job seekers with employment opportunities.
Namibia	NAM	Africa	Yes	The different goals and objectives are found in: - National Youth Policy - Namibia Youth Credit Scheme (Entrepreneurship Development Programme). The issue of youth employment in Namibia is multifaceted, which is why the National Youth Policy serves as an integrated framework for various ministries, agencies, and the private sector to collaborate on targeted interventions aimed at increasing youth employment. The policy focuses particularly on sectors with high potential for job creation, such as agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and tourism, to provide more opportunities for the youth. By aligning different stakeholders, the goal is to enhance youth employment through a coordinated effort across these key sectors.
Niger	NER	Africa	No
Nigeria	NGA	Africa	Yes	• Employment and Job Creation: Chapter 30 of the National Development Plan prioritizes employment generation and job creation as key drivers for economic growth and youth inclusion. • Gender Responsiveness and Youth Empowerment: The National Employment Policy highlights the importance of gender-responsive approaches while focusing on youth employment and empowerment to ensure inclusive opportunities for all young people. • Youth-Specific Targets: The National Youth Policy sets overarching goals and objectives that explicitly target and promote youth employment across various sectors. • Decent Employment Focus: The Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP) aims to contribute directly to achieving decent and freely chosen employment for young people by implementing strategic interventions in employability, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
Nicaragua	NIC	Americas	Yes	• Facilitate opportunities for young people to enter the labour market with better preparation and support, whether for personal development or business initiatives. • Provide follow-up support to at-risk youth through the promotion of social, recreational, and educational activities. • Promote solidarity actions and initiatives for social, cultural, environmental, and educational integration that contribute to the common good.
Netherlands	NLD	Europe	Yes	The Netherlands' national goals and objectives to promote youth employment are outlined in the "National Work Agenda for Tackling Youth Unemployment". In 2021, key stakeholders signed this agenda, including the Ministries of Social Affairs and Employment, Education, and various partners from the education and labor market sectors. The Work Agenda sets out a coordinated and strategic approach to addressing youth unemployment in the coming years, focusing on strengthening collaboration, supporting vulnerable youth, and improving the transition from education to the labor market.
Norway	NOR	Europe	Yes	Increasing the proportion of young people in employment.
Nepal	NPL	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Nepal’s national goal to promote youth employment includes guaranteeing 100 days of compulsory minimum employment for youth through the Prime Minister Employment Program (PMEP) and the Youth Employment Transformation Initiative (YETI), under the principle “Rojgarmulak Kam, Kam Ko Samman” (“Employment-based work, dignity of work”).
New Zealand	NZL	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	New Zealand’s Employment Action Plan (2024–2027) outlines a comprehensive strategy to enhance youth employment by focusing on targeted support, reducing disadvantage, and improving career guidance. Key initiatives include: • Supporting Youth Jobseekers: The plan aims to assist 4,000 additional young people through personalized phone-based case management and individual job plans. It also introduces community-based job coaches to provide tailored, on-the-ground support for youth transitioning from welfare to employment. • Addressing Persistent Disadvantage: Recognizing that timely intervention is crucial, the plan adopts a life-course approach to reduce labor market disadvantages. This involves developing medium- to long-term strategies to tackle persistent barriers faced by vulnerable groups and refreshing the Child and Youth Strategy to ensure inclusive support. • Enhancing Career Information and Guidance: To empower youth with informed decision-making, the plan commits to providing transparent, accessible labor market data and future-focused career advice. It fosters stronger connections between schools, employers, and tertiary education providers to prepare young people for employment or further training, ensuring they have access to the resources needed for successful career pathways.
Oman	OMN	Arab States	No
Pakistan	PAK	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	In Pakistan, the approach to youth changes depending on the province. Instead of a National Policy, Strategy, Laws or Plans, there are Provincial Policies and laws. At the National level, the Government is running Kamyab Jawan Program. National goals to promote youth employment include: - To promote formal and non-formal education, technical and vocational skills, digital skills, financial inclusion, social entrepreneurship and micro-business support for employment and economic empowerment of youth. - Various technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes for skill development of youth. - The Kamyab Jawaan programme envisages provisions of interest free/concessional loans to the youth. - Computation of National Youth Development Index for evidence based policy decisions. Other goals are described in the Annual Plan 2021-22.
Panama	PAN	Americas	Yes	Targets are set out in the Annual Operational Plan (POA) of the Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development, which includes the various programmes and projects implemented throughout the year.
Peru	PER	Americas	Yes	There are national goals and objectives in Peru aimed at promoting youth employment, including the provision of employment support services for young people. The National Decent Employment Policy (PED) includes six Priority Objectives, three of which involve services specifically focused on young people: • OP1: Increase the labour skills of the working-age population. • OP2: Strengthen the link between labour supply and demand. • OP5: Increase employment equity within the potential workforce. The PED and its services are aligned with the Strategic Plan for National Development to 2050, approved by Supreme Decree No. 095-2022-PCM. This Plan includes the objective: "To raise the levels of competitiveness and productivity through decent employment, based on the sustainable use of resources, human capital, the intensive use of science and technology, and the digital transformation of the country." The Policy is also consistent with Axis 2 of the General Government Policy 2021–2026, approved by Supreme Decree No. 164-2021-PCM, which aims to "Promote decent employment and employability," contributing to the country’s productivity while ensuring respect for labour rights, including occupational health and safety. The PED is aligned with the National Youth Policy, approved by Supreme Decree No. 013-2019-MINEDU, particularly in the following priority objectives: • OP1: Develop competencies in the educational process of the young population. • OP2: Increase access to decent work for young people. • OP5: Reduce discrimination against young people in vulnerable situations. The Institutional Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion outlines the following objectives: • OEI.01: Promote the employability of the working-age population for their integration into the labour market, with an emphasis on vulnerable groups. • OEI.02: Promote formal employment among the working-age population, also with a focus on vulnerable groups.
Philippines	PHL	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment are stated in the main national Plans: • The Labor and Employment Plan 2023–2028 prioritizes maximizing productive, remunerative, freely chosen, and sustainable work opportunities for youth, with key outcomes focused on increasing employability, expanding access to employment, and promoting shared labor market governance. • The Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 (Chapter 4) emphasizes increasing income-earning ability. • The Updated Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) 2023–2028 targets economic empowerment, aiming for youth to be competent in engaging in economic enterprises as well as in technology adoption, transformation, and innovation by 2028. The plan outlines strategies to achieve these goals through skills development, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion. The Philippine government implements several key programmes aimed at promoting youth employment and enhancing employability as part of its broader Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028 and related national development strategies. These initiatives include: • Government Internship Program (GIP): This programme offers youth beneficiaries the opportunity to serve in various government agencies and projects at both national and local levels. It enables young people to demonstrate their skills in public service, with internships lasting between 3 to 6 months, ultimately aiming to attract talented youth to careers in government service. • Special Programme for Employment of Students (SPES): SPES provides short-term employment opportunities for poor but deserving students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced workers, helping them bridge education and employment. • JobStart Philippines (JSP): JSP targets at-risk youth aged 18-24 by reducing job-search periods and improving employability through comprehensive employment facilitation, which includes life skills and technical training as well as paid internships to gain work experience. • Career Development Support Programme (CDSP): CDSP offers career guidance and support services to address gaps in employability such as skills mismatches and job search strategies. Through Networks of Guidance Counselors and Career Advocates (NGCCAs), the programme supports beneficiaries to align their skills and career goals with labor market demands.
Palau	PLW	Asia and the Pacific	No
Papua New Guinea	PNG	Asia and the Pacific	No
Poland	POL	Europe	Yes	Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan in Poland and Strategy for Development of Human Capital: 1. support of groups at risk of poverty and exclusion (especially young people) and ensuring coherence of actions for social inclusion; 2. creating and shaping social activity of young people, through the organization of volunteering, participation in public life, developing competences as well as social values and skills; 3. Individual and comprehensive vocational and educational activation of young people entering the labor market (unemployed, economically inactive and jobseekers). Providing job offers, activation or further education to every person up to the age of 29. within 4 months from the date of registration with the employment office. Reducing the unemployment rate and increasing the employment rate as well as reducing the percentage of "NEET" youth (not working, not learning and not training) among people under 29; 4. raising digital competences and competences needed for the green economy among young people; 5. reaching inactive young people.
Portugal	PRT	Europe	Yes	• Retaining Portuguese Youth in the Country The "You Have a Future in Portugal" Plan includes 14 measures addressing key areas such as student accommodation, grants for student workers, health, housing, and taxes, aiming to reduce the emigration of young Portuguese. • Increasing Wages in Portugal Decree-Law No. 85-A/2022 December 22, highlights the progressive update of the guaranteed minimum monthly wage (RMMG). This initiative, integrated into the programmes of recent Constitutional Governments, is supported by tripartite dialogue to ensure stability and predictability in wage growth. • Decent Work Agenda and Youth Labour Market Law. No. 13/2023 April 3, introduces significant amendments to the Labour Code as part of the Decent Work Agenda, which came into effect on 1 May 2023. • Medium-Term Agreement to Improve Incomes, Wages, and Competitiveness This agreement, effective until 2026, has four main objectives: increasing the share of wages in national wealth, strengthening company competitiveness, retaining young talent, and supporting families and businesses. Key measures include: ∙ Increasing the annual Youth IRS benefit to 50% in the first year, progressively reducing to 20% by the fifth year. ∙ Creating an annual programme to support the permanent hiring of qualified young workers with salaries of €1,330 or more. ∙ Extending the Regressar Programme to facilitate the return of emigrant youth. • II National Youth Plan (II PNJ)- Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 77/2022, September 13. • In Madeira Regional Employment Plan (PRE 2021-27): ∙ Decrease the rate of young people who do not work, study or follow any training (NEET) aged 15 to 29, contributing to the European target of 9% by 2030. ∙ Decrease youth unemployment rate (15-24 years old) ∙ Under the EFS, throught the regional program, the following targets were set for 2030: ∙ Reduce the youth unemployment rate to 22% (33.6% in 2020) and the youth NEET rate to 9% (16.7% in 2020). • Improving youth employment and reducing NEET young people
Paraguay	PRY	Americas	No
Occupied Territories	PSE	Arab States	Yes	Goals and objectives are provided in the National Employment Strategy 2021-2025.
Qatar	QAT	Arab States	Yes
Romania	ROU	Europe	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment are stated in: • National Youth Strategy. • Law no. 72 /2007 on stimulating the employment of pupils and students, with subsequent amendments and completions. • Law no. 335/2013 on the completion of the internship for higher education graduates, with subsequent amendments and completions.
Russian Federation	RUS	Europe	Yes	Russia’s Long-Term Program to Promote Youth Employment until 2030 includes a key objective: to create favourable conditions for young people to develop and apply their professional, work‑related, and entrepreneurial potential, especially in light of the ongoing transformation of the labour market
Rwanda	RWA	Africa	Yes	• Creating 1.25 million productive and decent jobs over the National Strategy for Transformation Phase 2 (NST2) period, averaging 250,000 jobs annually. • Supporting youth entrepreneurship by incubating business innovation projects through technical assistance, startup capital, and provision of production equipment under the Private Sector Development Youth Employment Strategy (PSDYES). • Facilitating capital access for youth-led startups and growing SMEs within value chains (VCs), as part of PSDYES initiatives. • Promoting entrepreneurship and business development, with a special focus on youth and women, as outlined in the Revised National Employment Policy (2019). • Enhancing hands-on skills development among youth outside the formal education system to improve employability and job readiness. • Supporting and empowering youth and women from the informal sector by improving access to finance, entrepreneurship opportunities, and new technologies (Revised NEP 2019).
Saudi Arabia	SAU	Arab States	Yes	Saudi Vision 2030 strategic objectives on employment: "decreasing the unemployment rate to 7% by 2030”, (including youth).
Serbia	SCG	Europe	Yes	Measure 2.5 of the Employment Strategy of the Republic of Serbia 2021–2026, as well as the accompanying Action Plan for 2024–2026, is dedicated to the 'Improvement of the labour market position of youth.' This objective aims to support the integration of young people into the labour market through targeted measures that enhance employability, improve access to quality job opportunities, and facilitate smoother school-to-work transitions. Implementation involves coordinated efforts across education, training, and employment sectors, in line with the broader goals of reducing youth unemployment and increasing youth participation in sustainable and decent work.
Sudan	SDN	Africa	No
Senegal	SEN	Africa	Yes	• Under the emergency programme for youth employment and socio-economic integration (XEYU NDAW NI), the Government of Senegal aims to create 65,000 jobs between 2021 and 2023. • At the 2011 Malabo Summit, the African Union Heads of State adopted a declaration committing to reduce youth unemployment by at least 2% per year over the following five years, as outlined in the Youth Decade Action Plan 2009–2018.
Singapore	SGP	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Singapore has national goals and objectives to promote youth employment through different initiatives and programmes for five main areas: 1. Employment facilitation and provision of opportunities 2. Skills and qualification upgrading 3. Career guidance / mentorship 4. Support for entrepreneurship 5. Support for gig workers
Solomon Islands	SLB	Asia and the Pacific	No
Sierra Leone	SLE	Africa	Yes	- To provide employment through the National Youth Service Scheme. - To develop skills and create youth employment through the car wash skills development and employment promotion Scheme. - To register job seekers including youth at employment centres of the Ministry.
El Salvador	SLV	Americas	Yes	To support the labour market integration of young people aged 18 to 35 through the implementation of the My First Job Programme (Mi Primer Trabajo), by fostering the development of skills and formal work experience through apprenticeship contracts that provide economic stability and access to social benefits, including healthcare coverage through the Salvadoran Social Security Institute (ISSS).
San Marino	SMR	Europe	No
Somalia	SOM	Africa	Yes	Somalia’s Decent Work Program aims to enhance youth employment by promoting economic development through the creation of job opportunities and the expansion of technical education, skills development, and training programs. Additionally, the National Employment Policy includes provisions specifically designed to support youth employment, ensuring targeted measures to improve access to decent work for young people.
South Sudan	SSD	Africa	Yes	South Sudan has developed a Decent Work Country Program, which serves as a key policy framework guaranteeing youth access to decent work opportunities free from discrimination.
Sao Tome and Principe	STP	Africa	Yes	• Improving the business environment in the country. • Paid professional internships for young people. • Implementation of the “Empreende Jovem” (Youth Entrepreneurship) Programme.
Suriname	SUR	Americas	Yes	• The country is committed to ensuring effective skills matching, workforce development, and equal access to quality educational opportunities, as outlined in the Multi-Annual Labour Market Plan (MTLMP). • Education and training programmes are strategically designed to align with both current and anticipated future demands of the labour market, ensuring young people are well-prepared for emerging job opportunities (as emphasized in the Decent Work Country Programme - DWCP). • Policies, programmes, and services have been enhanced to improve youth jobseekers’ access to decent and sustainable employment opportunities. • Efforts are focused on improving the matching process between the supply of labour and the demand from employers, aiming to reduce unemployment and underemployment among young people.
Slovakia	SVK	Europe	No
Slovenia	SVN	Europe	Yes	Slovenia’s national goals and objectives to promote youth employment are closely aligned with the European Union’s Youth Guarantee initiative, which has been implemented in the country since 2014. Under this initiative, every young person aged 15–29 is entitled to receive a good-quality offer of: • Employment (including traineeships), • Enrollment in formal education, • On-the-job training, or • Other training aligned with labour market needs, within four months of registering as unemployed with the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia.
Sweden	SWE	Europe	Yes	The reinforced Youth Guarantee has established general goals and objectives to promote youth employment. The Youth Policy Letter has as well defined the following goal: "All young people should have good living conditions, power to shape their lives and influence over the development of society". It was presented in a Government Bill (prop. 2013/14:191). An associated action programme with over 100 initiatives to promote development towards the youth policy goal is included in the Government Communication on Youth Policy. Also, in the Youth Policy Communication, the Government presents four new priorities for achieving the goal: 1. Mental health among young people must increase; 2. Social inclusion and establishment in the labor market must increase; 3. All young people should have a meaningful leisure time; 4. All young people must be involved in the building of society.
Eswatini	SWZ	Africa	No
Seychelles	SYC	Africa	Yes	Youth employment is at the heart of the National Employment Policy. Youth employment is included in specific strategies: - Strategy 2: Human Resources and Skills Development and Employability. Focusing on promoting an education system that is industry relevant. - Strategy 3: Active Labour Market Policies, Employment Services and Labour Market Information System focusing on implementing employment programmes that will specifically assist the youths in entering the labour market. - Strategy 6: Youth Employment focusing on policies and supporting activities that help promote youth employment.
Syrian Arab Republic	SYR	Arab States	No
Chad	TCD	Africa	Yes	Chad has implemented several national programmes aimed at promoting youth employment, including: • The Support Programme for Unemployed Graduates (PADE); • The Self-Employment Programme (PAE); • The Agricultural Credit Programme (PCA); • The Volunteer Project; • The Green Youth Employment Project; • The RBSA Chad Project, supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Togo	TGO	Africa	No
Thailand	THA	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	1. The National Strategy (2018–2037) outlines several priorities to support youth employment: • The strategy for developing and strengthening human capital emphasises instilling moral values, ethical standards, and 21st-century skills among school-age children and adolescents. It aims to nurture citizens of all ages by recognising their potential, interests, and abilities, providing tailored life and financial knowledge, practical skills, addressing labour market needs, and fostering life skills for harmonious living in a multicultural society. • The national competitiveness enhancement strategy focuses on cultivating smart entrepreneurs with expertise in technology and innovation across production, management, and marketing. It seeks to equip the younger generation with a solid educational foundation that promotes entrepreneurial skills and passion, emphasising analytical abilities, data utilisation in business planning, and risk management in today’s competitive environment. • Human capital development and strengthening are highlighted in Items 4.2.2 (Adolescence) and 4.2.3 (Working Age), reflecting a commitment to supporting young people’s transition into the workforce. 2. The 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027) also sets milestones: • Milestone 9: Thailand aims to reduce intergenerational poverty and ensure adequate, appropriate social protection. This includes providing equitable opportunities for children from poor households, establishing monitoring and support systems to assist underprivileged children in returning to education or pursuing vocational skills development. • Milestone 12: Thailand strives to develop a high-capability workforce committed to lifelong learning and responsive to future development contexts. This involves equipping primary education learners with self-awareness, digital skills, and essential competencies for learning, life, and work, while providing higher education learners with the skills needed for the future professional world and innovation. 3. The 5-year Skill Development Action Plan of the Department of Skill Development, Ministry of Labour (2023–2027), includes: • Strategy 3: Capacity Building for Entrepreneurs and Specific Target Groups. This strategy seeks to increase employment opportunities for specific groups, including youth, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities, through skill development programmes aligned with labour market demand. 4. The Annual Skill Development Plan for Fiscal Year 2025 includes: • Skill Development Programmes for Informal Workers and Specific Target Groups: Focused on enhancing employability for groups such as persons with disabilities, youth in juvenile detention centres, and conscripted soldiers prior to discharge. • Skill Development for School Dropouts: A collaborative initiative involving the Department of Skill Development, Department of Employment, Office of the Ombudsman, and other agencies, aimed at equipping 1,000 school dropouts nationwide with skills, knowledge, and positive attitudes through pre-employment training courses. • Skill Competitions: Designed to promote skill standards and inspire young people by showcasing the value and potential of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Planned events for 2025 include the National Skill Competition, ASEAN Skills Competition, WorldSkills Asia, and WorldSkills International. 5. The Draft National Strategic Plan in Educational Provision for Persons with Disabilities aims to increase employment opportunities for youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET) and to promote youth entrepreneurship and startups.
Tajikistan	TJK	Europe	Yes	The Address of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan entrusted to cover 1 million young citizens with vocational education and training during 2022-2026. The Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of the Population is developing the State Programme on Productive Employment of the Population for 2023-2027.
Turkmenistan	TKM	Europe	Yes	Turkmenistan has defined national goals to promote youth employment through the State Programme “On State Youth Policy for 2021–2025”. This programme aims to: • Support young people in gaining access to modern education and professional training; • Help them acquire relevant skills to meet labour market demands; • Strengthen their economic rights and promote entrepreneurship among youth, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); • Ensure the effective implementation of state guarantees for youth in the labour market, including employment support services.
Timor-Leste	TLS	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Timor-Leste faces several challenges in creating sufficient employment opportunities to achieve inclusive growth. Accordingly, the National Employment Strategy (NES) 2017–2030 prioritises the creation of new jobs to reduce unemployment and accommodate the substantial number of young people entering the labour market in the coming years. The strategy also emphasises increasing the number of formal jobs and improving current labour productivity.
Tonga	TON	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Tonga National Youth Policy (TNYP): - Build youth capacity on employment opportunities and encourage youth enterprises. - Promote and strengthen youth employment programs. - Improve regulatory framework and legislation on employment opportunities for youth.
Trinidad and Tobago	TTO	Americas	Yes	Under Theme IV of the National Development Strategy, the issue of under-employed youth is addressed. Pillar 1 of the National Youth Policy of Trinidad and Tobago 2020–2025 includes the following key objectives: • Prioritise youth economic participation and empowerment. • Facilitate enhanced economic participation among young people. • Promote youth economic empowerment through targeted initiatives. • Establish an internationally accredited ecosystem to support youth innovation and entrepreneurship.
Tunisia	TUN	Africa	Yes	- Innovation in labour market mechanisms and active employment programmes for young jobseekers and the digitalisation of youth employment services. - Reintegration and support programmes for young job seekers. - Initiation and awareness-raising in the trades provided by professionals for the benefit of young people. - Implementing programmes for the promotion of employment and integration of young people, the implementation of which is entrusted to it by the supervisory authority. - Providing the necessary support for the promotion of small businesses and self-employment. - Providing vocational information and guidance to training applicants with a view to their integration into working life. - Providing employment services and vocational training to youth job seekers. - The National Entrepreneurship Strategy (SNE) provides 5 programmes aimed at young people: 1. "Edupreneurship" programme: Development of entrepreneurial culture; 2. Take-off programme: Financial and non-financial support to entrepreneurs; 3. New Exporters" programme: Improving market access - mainly through export promotion - to SEDCs; 4. "Cataly-SME" Programme: Programme dedicated to the development of an institutional and regulatory framework conducive to entrepreneurship; 5. "Generation+" programme: Improving market access - mainly public procurement - to SPPEs. (Information provided in 2023)
Türkiye	TUR	Europe	Yes	Türkiye’s fundamental policy objective is to increase youth employment under decent working conditions.
Tuvalu	TUV	Asia and the Pacific	No
Tanzania, United Republic of	TZA	Africa	Yes	1. National Youth Development Fund, a rotational funding mechanism for youth projects. 2. A 4% of local council’s internal revenue allocated for youth employment and empowerment. 3. Land allocation for youth economic activities at council’s level. 4. Skills training in apprenticeship, internship and recognition of prior learning for youth by PMO. 5. Other youth empowerment opportunities in capacity building trainings and entrepreneurship.
Uganda	UGA	Africa	No
Ukraine	UKR	Europe	No
Uruguay	URY	Americas	Yes	Uruguay has national measures in place to promote youth employment, including specific programmes and legal frameworks that target young people. Under Law No. 19.973 on Employment Promotion, the "Youth modality" (Modalidad Jóvenes) has been actively used to increase youth employment placements, although no specific percentage target has been set. The number of young people placed in jobs under this scheme has grown significantly in recent years: • 2021: 923 insertions • 2022: 3,610 insertions • 2023: 3,525 insertions Additionally, the "I Study and Work" Programme (Programa Yo Estudio y Trabajo), which operates in the public sector, provides job opportunities for young people who are also continuing their education. The number of participants employed each year is as follows: • 2020: 535 • 2021: 700 • 2022: 622 • 2023: 668
United States	USA	Americas	No
Uzbekistan	UZB	Europe	Yes	On Measures to Radically Improve the System for State Protection of the Legitimate Interests of Businesses and for Further Development of Entrepreneurial Activities June 19, 2017, No. UP-5087 Decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan On Measures to Further Improve the State Policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Area of Cooperation with Compatriots Living Abroad (October 25, 2018, No. PP-3982) Decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan On Measures to Improve and Increase the Efficiency of Employment Promotion. July 14, 2018, No. PP-3856 Decision of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan On Measures to Implement the Investment Program of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2019 (December 19, 2018 No. PP-4067)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	VCT	Americas	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are reflected in policy documents and reports from labour market stakeholders. These include: Employers' Organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Employers’ Federation (SVEF), which advocate for policies and programmes that enhance workforce readiness and youth employability. Trade Unions, including the Commercial, Technical and Allied Workers Union (CTAWU), the Public Service Union (PSU), the Saint Vincent Union of Teachers (SVUT), and the National Workers' Union (NWU), regularly produce reports and recommendations focused on improving youth access to decent work, fair wages, and skills training.
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of	VEN	Americas	Yes
Viet Nam	VNM	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Vietnam has set national goals and objectives to promote youth employment through several policies and programmes: • Resolution No. 24/2021/QH15 (28 July 2021) by the National Assembly, which approves the project document for the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction 2021–2025. Additionally, Resolution No. 120/2019/QH14 (19 June 2020) approves the project document for the National Target Programme on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas 2021–2030, both of which include measures to support youth employment. • The Youth Development Strategy Vietnam (2021–2030), specifically Objective No. 3, aims to enhance the quality of vocational training and promote sustainable job creation for youth, focusing on developing high-quality young human resources. • Decision No. 899/QĐ-TTg (20 June 2017) by the Prime Minister, approving the Target Programme on Vocational Education, Employment and Occupational Safety 2016–2020, which has contributed to improving youth employability and workplace safety.
Vanuatu	VUT	Asia and the Pacific	Yes
Samoa	WSM	Asia and the Pacific	Yes	Challenges to be addressed include access of youth to financing, strengthened collaboration on planning and programming, strengthening vocational training to absorb drop outs and promotion of agriculture as a viable career choice.
Yemen	YEM	Arab States	Yes	General goals to promote youth employment: - Better job quality - The participatory role of youth - Encouraging the private sector to increase youth employment - Providing immediate and sustainable job opportunities through employment-intensive programmes
South Africa	ZAF	Africa	Yes	National goals and objectives to promote youth employment are included in: - National Youth Development Agency Act, No. 54 of 2008 - National Youth Policy (NYP 2020-2030). - Integrated Youth Development Strategy (IYDS) 2022-2025 - Youth-Mobil In addition, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative is focused on young people Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs), and through the Department of Employment and Labour and the Presidency aims at achieving 1 million youth jobs by 2024. This intervention includes the "National Pathway Management Network", which provides young work-seekers with a range of support services and work readiness training to help them navigate into employment and other economic opportunities. Furthermore, other apex interventions have included attempts to revitalize the National Youth Service (through a "Presidential Youth Service"), facilitate workplace integrated learning and support for the township and rural economy to enable self-employment and enterprise development. A goal is to overcome structural unemployment and discouragement of young work-seekers in the South African labour market, especially in rural areas and township economies through national programmes such as o Youth Employment Tax Incentive, Youth Employment Service (YES), Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Scorecard.
Zambia	ZMB	Africa	Yes	Youth employment in Zambia remains a significant challenge, driven by a growing youth population entering the labor market amid limited formal sector opportunities. A large proportion of young people are engaged in informal employment - particularly in agriculture and small-scale trade - where incomes are low and job security is lacking. In response, the government has implemented initiatives such as the Youth Empowerment Fund and vocational training programs aimed at addressing unemployment and closing skills gaps. The National Youth Policy (2024) and its Implementation Plan (2024–2028) clearly define the country’s national goals to promote youth employment, emphasizing entrepreneurship, skills development, and job creation.
Zimbabwe	ZWE	Africa	Yes	Zimbabwe aims to increase employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people, as outlined in the National Youth Policy (2020–2025). The policy prioritizes youth empowerment through skills development, job creation, and enterprise support. Additionally, the National Development Strategy 1 (2021–2025) reinforces this objective by promoting increased access to empowerment opportunities across all sectors of the economy. A key performance indicator under this strategy is the number of young people who successfully access and benefit from these opportunities.