Go to ILO main website

Countries with quantitative targets for youth employment

Country Country iso alpha 3 code Region Countries with quantitative targets for youth employment Additional info
Afghanistan AFG Asia and the Pacific No
Angola AGO Africa No
Albania ALB Europe Yes Reducing youth unemployment rate for youth aged 15-24 years old from 26.5% in 2021 to 23% in 2026 and to 18% in 2030 Reducing the Youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) rate of the age group 15-29 years old from 26.1% in 2021 to 22% in 2026 and to 15% in 2030.
United Arab Emirates ARE Arab States No
Argentina ARG Americas Yes
Armenia ARM Europe No
Antigua and Barbuda ATG Americas No
Australia AUS Asia and the Pacific No
Austria AUT Europe No
Azerbaijan AZE Europe Yes According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated October 30, 2018 No. 602 on the approval of the Employment Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2019-2030), the following target was set at a national level to promote youth employment: – By 2030, achieve a reduction in the proportion of young people aged 15-24 who are Not in Employment, Education of Training (NEET) to 15% (Paragraph 3.3.3).
Burundi BDI Africa No
Belgium BEL Europe Yes
Benin BEN Africa Yes • Reduce the youth underemployment rate from 72% in 2018 to 50% by 2026. • Increase the number of jobseekers integrated into salaried or self-employment from 29,058 in 2020 (data from the National Employment Agency, Special Programme for Employment Integration, PSPIE, and ProDIJ) to 80,000 by 2026 (based on data from AnpE, PSIE, PSPIE, and ProDIJ). The integration data mentioned here refers to the National Employment Agency (AnpE), which serves as the single point of contact for employment promotion in Benin. As of September 2024, approximately 68,358 beneficiaries have already been integrated.
Burkina Faso BFA Africa Yes
Bangladesh BGD Asia and the Pacific Yes According to the base line study of 2016, the NEET youth in Bangladesh was 28.88% and it will be reduced to: - 21.88% in 2020; - 12% in 2025; - 3% in 2030.
Bulgaria BGR Europe Yes The Employment Strategy of the Republic of Bulgaria 2021–2030 sets a clear quantitative target within the framework of youth employment policy: to reduce the NEET rate (the share of young people aged 15–29 who are unemployed and not participating in education or training) from 18.1% in 2020 to 15% by 2030.
Bahrain BHR Arab States No
Bahamas BHS Americas No
Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Europe Yes ○ Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: • By 2030, the Employment Strategy aims to increase by 20% the number of young people who have completed their education and are employed in jobs that correspond to their qualifications, compared to the baseline year. ○ Republika Srpska: • The Republic of Srpska Employment Strategy 2021-2027 has several objectives that include quantitative targets: - Support Program for Employment of Young People with Higher Education (Interns): the measure is aimed at enhancing the competencies and preparing young and educated individuals (primarily university graduates with knowledge of foreign languages, computer skills, etc.) for employment, with a focus on gaining work experience and integrating into the workforce. - Professional Training Program for Individuals with Acquired Higher Education: it is aimed at reducing youth unemployment by facilitating the transition of young individuals with higher education (without work experience) from the world of education to the world of work. - Support Program for Training Young People for Employment in the Field of Creative Industries, with a Focus on Programming. This measure involves supporting young people in acquiring the skills necessary for the growing creative industries market. - Incentive Program for Youth Employment in the BPO Industry. This measure is focused on increasing youth employment in a technologically advanced environment, in the outsourcing of business processes from companies in developed market economies (BPO – Business Process Outsourcing)
Belarus BLR Europe Yes - Reducing unemployment among 16-30 year olds from 6.5% in 2020 to 6.3% by 2025 - The proportion of NEET youth (aged 15 to 24) who are not studying, working as a proportion of the total population aged 15 to 24 from 6.8% in 2020 to 6% by 2025.
Belize BLZ Americas No
Bolivia, Plurinational State of BOL Americas No
Brazil BRA Americas No
Barbados BRB Americas Yes No further information was provided by the government.
Brunei Darussalam BRN Asia and the Pacific Yes
Botswana BWA Africa Yes - 20 percent of the budget allocation for youth in all ministries, including for youth businesses (micro procurement). - All Ministries and Independent departments to apply 15 percent of price preference margin for all youth companies in open tenders (Presidential Directive CAB 19 ( B) 2013). - Reservation of maintenance of government facilities by all Ministries, to set aside 15 % of their budget to youth companies. Affirmative Action for the youth 2015.
Central African Republic CAF Africa Yes Increase the rate of youth socio-professional integration y 60% between 2017 and 2021; Decrease the unemployment rate from 25% in 2016 to less than 10% in 2021.
Canada CAN Americas No
Switzerland CHE Europe No
Chile CHL Americas No
China CHN Asia and the Pacific No
Côte d'Ivoire CIV Africa No
Cameroon CMR Africa Yes • Reduce the overall unemployment rate from 6.1% in 2021 to 4% by 2030. • Reduce the overall underemployment rate from 65% in 2020 to below 50.1% by 2030.
Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Africa No
Congo COG Africa Yes • Reduce the youth unemployment rate (ages 15 to 35) from 26.7% to 14.7% by 2027. • Reduce the NEET rate (young people Not in Employment, Education or Training) from 41.3% to 29.3% by 2027. • Increase the employment rate of young people aged 15 to 35 from 19.2% to 34.2% by 2027. • Increase the use of Public Employment Services (PES) in job searching from 10.7% to 40.7% by 2027.
Cook Islands COK Asia and the Pacific No
Colombia COL Americas No
Comoros COM Africa No
Cabo Verde CPV Africa Yes
Costa Rica CRI Americas Yes There are quantitative targets set at the national level within the Government’s roadmap as part of the National Development and Public Investment Plan (PNDIP) 2023–2026. These include specific objectives aimed at improving youth employment outcomes.
Cuba CUB Americas Yes
Cyprus CYP Europe Yes The Cyprus Public Employment Service (PES) has set a yearly target of 15% of young registered unemployed aged 15-29 to participate in individualised counselling and support and a yearly target of 5% of the same group to be placed in a job. - The four mobile units of PES have the target to approach and provide individualised guidance and support to 2400 NEETs until June 2026. - The Labour Department provides support to employers to hire young people (aged 15-29) NEETs (target: 600 NEETs), for a 12 month period, following the completion of a two-month subsidised training period (2 months subsidised training and 10-month subsidised employment) by Q4 2025.Also the Labour Department provided support to employers to hire 2,295 young unemployed people aged 15-29 NEETs for a 12 month period through an Employment Subsidy Scheme which is running during the period 2020-2023. - The HRDA has submitted for inclusion in the Cyprus Operational Programme «THALIA 2021-2027», under the European Social Fund+, the Scheme «Training programmes for young people aged 15-29 not in education, employment or training (ΝΕΕΤs) to acquire basic knowledge and skills», which has been approved and it is currently in the designing phase. The acquisition of basic knowledge and skills (for example literacy, math skills, digital and technological skills, interpersonal skills, entrepreneurship) will help young people aged 15-29 to enter the labour market. In addition, upgrading existing and acquiring new knowledge and skills will help them exploit the employment opportunities that will arise in dynamic sectors of economic activity, such as the green and blue economy, and will prepare them suitably for the changing nature of work, especially that related to digital transition. The indicative target is for 2.800 NEETs to benefit from the Scheme.
Czech Republic CZE Europe Yes Although the current strategic framework does not include a youth unemployment target, a quantitative target has been set to reduce the NEET rate. While the previous Employment Strategy (up to 2020) included a quantitative target for reducing youth unemployment, the current strategy has opted not to set a specific target for this indicator. However, in line with the Action Plan for the Implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Czech Republic has adopted a quantitative target to reduce the NEET rate (youth not in employment, education, or training) from 11% in 2020 to 9% by 2030. Notably, this target was already achieved by 2024, demonstrating progress in youth labour market integration.
Germany DEU Europe No
Djibouti DJI Africa No
Dominica DMA Americas Yes Unemployment reduced below 5% by 2025 Underemployment reduced below 60% by 2025
Denmark DNK Europe No
Dominican Republic DOM Americas Yes • Reduce the open unemployment rate among individuals aged 15 to 24 from 11.27% in 2023 to 10.55% by 2025. • Reduce the open unemployment rate among individuals aged 25 to 35 from 6.93% in 2023 to 6.81% by 2025. • Reduce the percentage of young people aged 15 to 24 who are not studying and are unemployed from 20.52% in 2023 to 19.99% by 2025. • Reduce the percentage of young people aged 18 to 24 who are neither studying nor employed from 24.25% in 2023 to 23.84% by 2025. • Reduce the percentage of young people aged 25 to 35 who are neither studying nor employed from 20.50% in 2023 to 20.20% by 2025. • Increase the percentage of young people aged 15 to 24 employed in the formal sector from 50.64% in 2023 to 50.91% by 2025. • Increase the percentage of young people aged 25 to 35 employed in the formal sector from 57.53% in 2023 to 57.73% by 2025. • The overall labour force participation rate for the population aged 18 to 35 is targeted to increase from 74.80% in 2023 to 75.00% by 2025.
Algeria DZA Africa No
Ecuador ECU Americas Yes
Egypt EGY Africa Yes There are quantitative targets mentioned in programmes and activities of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Qualifying youth for the labor market and spreading the culture of self-employment). For example, these programs target 1.822 million beneficiaries out of the total number of unemployed people in the current year of 2.211 million individuals, which represents 82.4%.
Eritrea ERI Africa Yes Increasing youth employment annually by 2%.
Spain ESP Europe Yes The Youth Guarantee Plus Plan 2021–2027 (GJ+) does not include specific quantitative targets. Instead, it has been designed to address key structural and coordination challenges that affect the implementation and impact of youth employment policies. The Plan focuses on the following priority areas: • Improving accessibility to the Youth Guarantee, particularly for inactive, low-skilled, and more vulnerable young people, and enhancing the visibility and outreach of the Plan among these groups. • Strengthening inter-institutional coordination, with the aim of improving information exchange and aligning the efforts of different stakeholders at the national, regional, and local levels. The Plan outlines a multilevel governance approach: • The central government acts as the main funder and ensures the harmonisation of responsibilities delegated to the Autonomous Communities. •The Autonomous Communities are responsible for the implementation of active labour market policies within their territories. • The local level is prioritised for the delivery of services and interventions, bringing the Plan closer to the young people it targets.
Estonia EST Europe Yes • Labour force participation rate (ages 15–74): Aim to maintain a labour force participation rate of approximately 72% by 2030, compared to 73.9% in 2023. • Average duration of working life: Target a duration of working life of 40.2 years by 2030, down from 40.8 years in 2023. • Employment rate (ages 20–64): Aim to achieve an employment rate of 81.3% by 2030, compared to 82.1% in 2023. • Share of NEETs (ages 15–29): Target a reduction in the share of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) from 9.6% in 2023 to 8.5% by 2035.
Ethiopia ETH Africa No
Finland FIN Europe Yes To increase the general employment rate at 75% by 2023 (including youth).
Fiji FJI Asia and the Pacific No
France FRA Europe No
Gabon GAB Africa No
United Kingdom GBR Europe Yes
Georgia GEO Europe Yes Reduce the youth unemployment rate from 27.8% in 2021 to 21.8% by 2026.
Ghana GHA Africa No
Guinea GIN Africa No
Gambia GMB Africa No
Guinea - Bissau GNB Africa Yes No further information is available.
Equatorial Guinea GNQ Africa No
Greece GRC Europe Yes - Reducing the youth unemployment rate for people aged 15-29 from 28,4% in 2021 to 22% in 2025 and to 18% in 2030. - Activation of young NEETs and integration into the labour market by reducing the NEETs rate (ages 15-24) from 11% in 2021 to 8% in 2025 and to 5% in 2030. - Activation of young NEETs and integration into the labour market by reducing the NEETs rate (ages 15-24)to 21% in 2025 and to 16% in 2030.
Grenada GRD Americas No
Guatemala GTM Americas Yes The National Policy for Decent Employment (PNED) 2017–2032, aligned with the K’atun 2032 National Development Plan, sets quantitative targets focused on reducing unemployment and improving labour conditions, with special emphasis on youth and vulnerable groups. These targets include: • Reduce the youth unemployment rate from 2.4% (2016) to 1.5% (2032) • Reduce labour informality from 67.8% (2016) to 50% (2032) • Decrease the visible underemployment rate from 9.4% (2016) to 5% (2032) • Eliminate the percentage of workers living in extreme poverty from 20.1% (2014) to 0% (2032)
Guyana GUY Americas No
Honduras HND Americas No
Croatia HRV Europe Yes Croatia has established several quantitative targets at the national level to promote youth employment. These targets are embedded in key strategic documents and cover both general employment objectives and youth-specific goals: NEET Reduction Target: The National Plan for Labour, Occupational Health and Safety and Employment (2021–2027) aims to reduce the NEET rate (young people not in employment, education, or training) from 14% in 2020 to 12% by 2027. Activation Outcome Indicator: Within the National Plan, a key indicator is the number of individuals employed 6 months after exiting active labour market policy (ALMP) measures. The baseline in 2020 was 23,514, with a target of 150,400 individuals by 2027. This includes young people as a key priority group under the goal to increase labour market participation. National Development Strategy 2030: Sets a strategic goal to increase the employment rate of persons aged 20–64 from 66.7% in 2020 to 75% by 2030, supporting long-term youth integration into the labour market. National Recovery and Resilience Plan (2021–2026): Aims to increase the share of young farmers from 12.7% to 20% by 2030, supporting youth employment in the agricultural sector. Government Programme 2024–2028: Establishes a target to reduce the general unemployment rate to 5% and the youth unemployment rate to below 10% by the end of the government’s term.
Haiti HTI Americas No
Hungary HUN Europe Yes Quantitative targets exist but are primarily tied to the implementation of specific policy measures, particularly within the framework of national and EU strategies. EU-Aligned objectives relevant to youth: • Reduce early school leaving to below 9% by 2030, in line with the EU-wide education target. • Further reduce the NEET rate (young people not in employment, education, or training), aligned with EU goals to support youth inclusion in the labor market. While there is no specific national target for the youth unemployment rate, Hungary has set a broader labor market objective: Achieve an 85% employment rate for the 20–64 age group by 2030.
Indonesia IDN Asia and the Pacific Yes • Increase the Youth Development Index from 52.67 in 2019 to 57.67 by 2024. • Increase the proportion of youth entrepreneurs in white-collar occupations from 0.48 in 2022 to 0.55 by 2024. • Increase the proportion of the workforce with upper secondary education from 44.57% in 2022 to 49.75% by 2024. • Raise the gross enrollment rate in higher education from 31.16% in 2022 to 32.28% by 2024. • Increase the percentage of higher education graduates employed within one year of graduation from 59.99% in 2022 to 61.71% by 2024. • Increase the number of students developing entrepreneurial innovations from 3,781 in 2022 to 5,000 by 2024. • Increase the number of vocational higher education students taking professional competency tests from 12,130 in 2022 to 15,000 by 2024.
India IND Asia and the Pacific Yes Pradhan MantriKaushalVikasYojana (PMKVY) launched in 2015 is a flagship schemes of the Ministry aimed at providing free-of-cost skill training to over 1 Crore (10 million) youth in 4 years in 221+ job roles; offering short term training between 2 months to 6 months. In FY 2018-19, till December 12, 2018, under PMKVY (2.0)6,88,388 candidates under STT, 2,35,258candidates under RPL and 41,939 candidates under Special Projects have been trained. 10,07,292 candidates were assessed and 9,44,455 candidates were certified in FY 2018 - 19, under the program. Under the Centrally Sponsored State Monitored (CSSM) component of PMKVY (2.0), wherein the skill training is managed by the states, however, funded by the centre - as on 12th December 2018, a total of 1.82 lakh candidates have been enrolled and 94,349 candidates have been trained. A total of 87,722 candidates are currently undergoing training across 169 job roles. The flagship program PMKVY has successfully registered close to 10 lakh (1 million) placements in 2018. The scheme emphasizes on bringing scale and speed to standards in the skill ecosystem and creating employment opportunities for the youth and women. Encouragingly, women have outshone men with over 5 lakhs registering for the placement drive. The number of male registrations is just a shade under 4.5 lakh and expected to climb in a few months. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)with Best in Class Employers: RPL certifies the skills of people with prior experience or those trained informally. Since 2016, the program has benefitted close to 8 lakh people across the country. To scale up this initiative, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched RPL with Best in Class Employers in 2018 – an initiative to directly collaborate with reputed employers across various sectors. Under the student paid model for skill trainings over 104 lakh trainings have been conducted till December 13, A532018 since inception. In FY 18-19 till November 2018, more than 23 lakh trainings have been reported in high demand job roles, across 35+ priority sectors, which include renewable energy efficiency specialist, smart cities – concept and implementation, solar technicians, rooftop gardening and F&B services specialist amongst others. Under the Long-term training module, there are a total of 15,042 ITIs in the country, out of which 2,229 ITIs got affiliated in 2108. The seating capacity of the ITIs in the country has been increased by 2,94,196 including supernumerary. Directorate General of Training (DGT) which is governing ITIs around the country.
Ireland IRL Europe Yes "Pathways to Work 2021-2025": Reduce the Youth Unemployment Rate
Iran, Islamic Republic of IRN Asia and the Pacific No
Iraq IRQ Arab States Yes No further information is provided.
Iceland ISL Europe No
Israel ISR Europe No
Italy ITA Europe No
Jamaica JAM Americas Yes
Jordan JOR Arab States Yes -For the National framework for empowerment and employment (NFEE) program, the target is to create 30,000 jobs by 2019. For the National Service Program, the target is to train and empower 20,000 youth by 2020.
Japan JPN Asia and the Pacific Yes Reduce the number of young job-hoppers from 1.36 million in 2020 to 1.14 million by 2025.
Kazakhstan KAZ Europe No
Kenya KEN Africa No
Kyrgyzstan KGZ Europe No
Cambodia KHM Asia and the Pacific Yes
Kiribati KIR Asia and the Pacific Yes The number of overseas workers aged 18–45 is targeted to increase from 2,500 in 2024 to 5,000 by 2027.
Saint Kitts and Nevis KNA Americas No
Korea, Republic of KOR Asia and the Pacific Yes • Reducing youth unemployment rate from 9.5% in 2018 to less than 8% in 2021.
Kuwait KWT Arab States No
Lao People's Democratic Republic LAO Asia and the Pacific No
Lebanon LBN Arab States No
Liberia LBR Africa Yes By 2030, 42,500 young people should benefit from labour and income generating programmes and/or will be enrolled in productive public works and life skills training programmes.
Libya LBY Africa No
Saint Lucia LCA Americas No
Sri Lanka LKA Asia and the Pacific No
Lesotho LSO Africa No
Lithuania LTU Europe Yes • Reduce the NEET rate among young people aged 15–29 from 13.5% in 2023 to 9% by 2030. • Reduce the youth unemployment rate (aged 15–24, as a percentage of the labor force) from 13.8% in 2023 to 8.3% by 2030.
Luxembourg LUX Europe Yes • Ensure that every young person under the age of 25 is offered a quality opportunity - either employment, continued education, vocational training, or a traineeship - within four months of losing their job or leaving formal education, in line with the EU Youth Guarantee Recommendation. • Ensure that approximately 75% of the youth are satisfactorily served by the programme by having their needs met through access to quality employment, education, training, or traineeship opportunities. • Under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), Luxembourg sets specific objectives for young jobseekers and unemployed youth aimed at combating youth unemployment through targeted, inclusive, and proactive measures.
Latvia LVA Europe Yes • Reduce the proportion of young people aged 15–24 who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) from 7.9% in 2018 to 6% by 2027. • Increase the employment rate of recent graduates (aged 20–34, who completed secondary or higher education within the past 1–3 years) from 84.1% in 2018 to 88% by 2027. • Reduce the proportion of 15–24-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (NEET) from 7.8% in 2018 to 6% by 2027. • Increase the proportion of young people who volunteer regularly (several times a year) from 27% in 2020 to 37% by 2027. • Increase the proportion of young people aged 15–24 participating in active labour market policy (ALMP) measures from 6.3% in 2019 to 7.2% by 2027.
Morocco MAR Africa No
Moldova, Republic of MDA Europe Yes As part of its national strategic objectives, the Republic of Moldova has set a quantitative target to reduce the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate from 30.4% in 2021 to 24.0% by 2026.
Madagascar MDG Africa Yes
Maldives, Republic of MDV Asia and the Pacific No
Mexico MEX Americas Yes As part of the Youth Building the Future programme, incorporate young people aged 18 to 29 into productive activities through training provided by Job Centres, with a target of reaching 500,000 youth by 2025.
Marshall Islands MHL Asia and the Pacific Yes
North Macedonia MKD Europe Yes The youth unemployment rate (ages 15–29) in North Macedonia has shown a gradual decline over recent years. It stood at 25.2% in 2022, decreased to 24.9% in 2023, and further dropped to 23.6% in the third quarter of 2024 (latest available data).
Mali MLI Africa No
Malta MLT Europe Yes Under the Youth Guarantee 2024–2028, Malta aims to assist 3,256 NEETs (young people not in employment, education, or training) through tailored support measures, including guidance, training, and activation initiatives to facilitate their integration into the labour market or education pathways.
Myanmar MMR Asia and the Pacific Yes No further information is currently available.
Montenegro MNE Europe Yes • Reduce the registered youth unemployment rate from 20.48% in 2020 to 15% by 2023, and further to 12% by 2025. • Reduce the long-term unemployment rate from 13.4% in 2020 to approximately 12.1% by 2023 (a 10% reduction), and to around 10.7% by 2025 (a 20% reduction). • Reduce the share of young people (aged up to 29) in registered unemployment from 25.36% to 23.3% by 2023, and further to 20.3% by 2025.
Mongolia MNG Asia and the Pacific No
Mozambique MOZ Africa No
Mauritania MRT Africa Yes
Mauritius MUS Africa No
Malawi MWI Africa Yes Reducing the youth unemployment rate from 25.3% in 2018 to 17.7% by 2030.
Malaysia MYS Asia and the Pacific Yes Malaysia has not established specific quantitative targets, such as reducing the youth unemployment rate by a defined percentage, to promote youth employment at the national level. However, efforts to enhance youth employability are evident through key initiatives: • HRD Corp - Upskilling and Reskilling Performance (January–November 2024): A total of 693,800 youth participated in various HRD Corp schemes aimed at enhancing their skills and employability. • SOCSO Job Placements (January–September 2024): 157,355 individuals, including youth, were successfully placed in jobs during the third quarter of 2024.
Namibia NAM Africa Yes
Niger NER Africa No
Nigeria NGA Africa Yes
Nicaragua NIC Americas Yes • Consolidate youth participation and leadership in the country’s economic, political, and social development through 107,100 solidarity work actions, engaging an average of 441,516 young people annually. • Engage 119,795 young people in creative and innovative spaces, supporting 455 creative and innovative projects at the national level. • Deliver 1,230 training events to strengthen young people’s knowledge and foster the development of innovative, creative, and entrepreneurial ideas. • Conduct 24 studies and research initiatives on youth perceptions and interests to ensure timely and effective responses to their needs and the realisation of their rights. • Award 9,541 scholarships to young women across various levels of education. • Provide 15,778 scholarships to low-income youth for technical, undergraduate, postgraduate, and master’s level studies at national and international institutions.
Netherlands NLD Europe No
Norway NOR Europe Yes
Nepal NPL Asia and the Pacific No
New Zealand NZL Asia and the Pacific No
Oman OMN Arab States No
Pakistan PAK Asia and the Pacific Yes Kamyab Jawaan Programme: 1. High end/conventional skills training to 170,000 youth. 2. Concessional loans to 1 million youth. 3. Internships for 25,000 individuals. 4. 2000 individuals to be sent abroad for training. Further targets are described in the Annual Plan 2021-22.
Panama PAN Americas Yes
Peru PER Americas Yes • Increase the proportion of people in decent employment (Level 1 – encompassing all core and complementary indicators defining decent work) from 14% in 2019 to 20% by 2030. • Raise the share of the working-age population with completed secondary and/or upper secondary education from 67.33% in 2019 to 81.54% by 2030. • Increase the transition rate from basic education to higher or technical-productive education from 33% in 2019 to 48% by 2030. Reduce the occupational mismatch rate among employed individuals with tertiary education as follows: • From 54.36% to 39.21% for all higher education graduates (university and non-university), • From 46.31% to 26.74% for university graduates, • From 63.19% to 55.34% for non-university graduates, all by 2030, using 2019 as the baseline. • Reduce the gender gap in employment rates among individuals with completed secondary education, narrowing the difference between male and female employment from 17.0 percentage points in 2019 to 9.5 percentage points by 2030.
Philippines PHL Asia and the Pacific Yes Increase the beneficiaries of the main national programmes focused on youth employment.
Palau PLW Asia and the Pacific No
Papua New Guinea PNG Asia and the Pacific No
Poland POL Europe Yes • Increasing youth activity rate at the age of 15-24 from 31% (2021) to 37% (2030). • Increasing youth activity rate at the age of 25-29 from 84,5% (2021) to 88% (2030). • Increasing women activity rate at the age of 20-29 from 63,4% (2021) to 68% (2030). • Increasing the youth employment rate at the age of 15-24 from 27,3% (2021) to 33% (2030). • Increasing the youth employment rate at the age of 25-29 from 80,7% (2021) to 81% (2030). • Decreasing the youth unemployment rate at the age of 15-24 from 11,9% (2021) to 9% (2030). • Decreasing the youth unemployment rate at the age of 25-29 from 4,5% (2021) to 4% (2030). • Decreasing the NEET rate at the age of 15-29 - 16,9% (2021) to 10% (2030). • Decreasing the NEET rate at the age of 15-24 - 11,2% (2021), 6% (2030). • Decreasing the NEET rate at the age of 25-29 - 16,9% (2021), 12% (2030).
Portugal PRT Europe Yes At national level, according to the Portugal 2030 Strategy: - Reduction to less than 5% of the early dropout rate from education and training - Guarantee a percentage of 60% of young people aged 20 to attend higher education in 2030, with 50% of tertiary education graduates in the 30-34 age group In Madeira Region: - Decrease youth NEET rate from 16,7% in 2020 to 9% by 2030 - At least 60% of all adults of working age must participate in training actions annually At least 80% of people aged between 16 and 74 must have digital skills basics - Decrease the youth unemployment rate from 33,6% in 2020 to 22% by 2030
Paraguay PRY Americas No
Occupied Territories PSE Arab States Yes Targets and indicators on youth employment are described in the National Employment Strategy 2021-2025.
Qatar QAT Arab States Yes • Increase sustainable employment levels from 83,000 in 2021 to 102,000 by 2030. • Maintain a low unemployment rate of 0.4% in 2021, keeping it below 3% by 2030. • Increase the proportion of Qataris employed in the private sector from 16% in 2020 to 20% by 2030. • Increase the percentage of Qatari workforce participation from 54.2% in 2021 to 58% by 2030.
Romania ROU Europe Yes
Russian Federation RUS Europe Yes • Increase the employment rate of graduates from vocational education institutions from 57% in 2020 to 80% by 2030. • Reduce the youth unemployment rate (ages 15–29) from 10.7% in 2020 to 5% by 2030. • Reduce the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 from 17.3% in 2020 to 8% by 2030. • Increase the proportion of minors aged 14 to 18 participating in employment-related programmes from 5.9% in 2020 to 35% by 2030.
Rwanda RWA Africa Yes • Reduce the unemployment rate from 15.2% in 2019 to 7% by 2035 and further to 5% by 2050. • Train and certify 1,280 unemployed semi-skilled, unskilled youth, and NEETs under the Dual Training Program by the 2024/25 fiscal year. • Place 19,000 interns in public and private institutions in 2023, and 1,500 interns in the 2024/25 fiscal year. • Support 15,313 startups and early-growth SMEs to access finance through Partial Credit Guarantee provision in 2023, and 5,500 in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
Saudi Arabia SAU Arab States No
Serbia SCG Europe Yes The quantitative targets to promote youth employment at the national level are based on youth from 15 to 29 years old. • Increase the employment rate from 36.9% in 2019 to 42.8% by 2026. • Reduce the unemployment rate from 21.5% in 2019 to 15.2% by 2026. • Reduce the NEET rate (youth not in employment, education or training) from 18.9% in 2019 to 12.7% by 2026. • Increase the share of unemployed youth participating in active employment policy measures from 18.8% in 2022 to 20% by 2026. • Increase the effect of financial measures on youth employment from 49% in 2021 to 53% by 2026. • Youth Guarantee programme piloted by 2026
Sudan SDN Africa No
Senegal SEN Africa Yes Massive job creation under the emergency programme for youth employment and socio-economic integration (XEYU NDAW NI): • In 2021, the programme aimed to create 65,000 jobs (target: 100%). • By 2023, the XEYU NDAW NI programme had created 66,243 jobs, achieving 102% of its target. In the National Strategy Document (SND), the average growth rate is expected to be 6.5% between 2025 and 2029. • In 2023, the growth rate was estimated at 4.1%. • By 2029, the growth rate is projected to reach 6.5%.
Singapore SGP Asia and the Pacific No
Solomon Islands SLB Asia and the Pacific No
Sierra Leone SLE Africa Yes By 2017, one million new jobs should have been created for youth (according to the National Youth Programme 2014.
El Salvador SLV Americas Yes
San Marino SMR Europe No
Somalia SOM Africa No
South Sudan SSD Africa Yes
Sao Tome and Principe STP Africa No
Suriname SUR Americas No
Slovakia SVK Europe No
Slovenia SVN Europe Yes Under the goal 3 of “Implementation of the Youth Guarantee - Faster transition of young unemployed into the Labour Market”: - Reducing NEET rate 15–29 from 8,8 % in 2019 to 8,3 % by 2025. - Lowering the share of long term unemployed age 15–29 let among all unemployed young people from 27% in 2019 to 22% 2025. - Average unemployment duration for young 15-29 from 10,9 months in 2019 to 8 months by 2025.
Sweden SWE Europe No
Eswatini SWZ Africa No
Seychelles SYC Africa Yes National Development Strategy : - 7% of students with Special Education Needs going for tertiary education by 2023; - 20% of students with disabilities going for tertiary education by 2023; - 70% of trained personnel employed in their areas of specialization by 2023; - Youth unemployment Rate from 14.5% in 2018 to 12.6% by 2023.
Syrian Arab Republic SYR Arab States No
Chad TCD Africa No
Togo TGO Africa No
Thailand THA Asia and the Pacific Yes Across its various programmes, Thailand establishes quantitative targets.
Tajikistan TJK Europe Yes
Turkmenistan TKM Europe No
Timor-Leste TLS Asia and the Pacific No
Tonga TON Asia and the Pacific No
Trinidad and Tobago TTO Americas No
Tunisia TUN Africa Yes
Türkiye TUR Europe Yes
Tuvalu TUV Asia and the Pacific No
Tanzania, United Republic of TZA Africa No
Uganda UGA Africa No
Ukraine UKR Europe No
Uruguay URY Americas Yes Under the framework of Law No. 19.973, several youth-specific employment modalities have been established, which aim to promote the labour market integration of young people. These include: • First work experience • First work experience in the public sector (which includes the "I Study and Work" Programme) • Protected youth employment • Temporary subsidy for unemployed youth • Paid formative internships In all these cases, employers receive financial subsidies for hiring young people under these modalities. In addition, the law also covers unpaid formative internships and work placements for recent graduates, further supporting the transition of young people into the labour market.
United States USA Americas No
Uzbekistan UZB Europe Yes No further information is available.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines VCT Americas Yes
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of VEN Americas Yes • Reduce the youth unemployment rate from 16% in 2019 to 6% by 2025. • Number of young people incorporated into the Gran Misión Chamba Juvenil, a policy aimed at ensuring first employment for Venezuelan youth from 2,721,480 to 3,500,000. •Productive land allocated for youth from 123,200 hectares to 300,000 hectares. • New students enrolled in the basic education system: Increase from 6,580,720 to 10,250,000 students in the initial, primary, and secondary education system. • Increase the number of university students from 3,145,869 to 3,500,000 by 2025, incorporating 900,000 new students. • Increase the number of young entrepreneurs and producers from 836,150 to 1,000,000.
Viet Nam VNM Asia and the Pacific Yes Quantitative Targets for Youth Employment and Vocational Training in Vietnam Enhancing the Quality of Vocational Training for Youth: • By 2030, 80% of young people will receive job orientation and employment counselling, and 60% will be provided with vocational training linked to job creation, with priority given to local employment opportunities. • Annually, 100% of pupils and students in vocational training institutions will receive training on entrepreneurship before graduation, and 100% will be equipped with knowledge on international integration and digitalisation. • Each year, 30% of student ideas and Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) projects will be connected with enterprises and venture capital funds or supported by an appropriate budget. Job Creation and Reduction of Youth Unemployment and Underemployment: • By 2030, youth unemployment rates will be reduced to less than 7% in urban areas and youth underemployment will be less than 6% in rural areas. • At least 700,000 young people will be employed annually. • The goal is to create sustainable jobs for over 50% of youth from ethnic minority and mountainous areas or those facing difficult socio-economic circumstances, and for 20% of youth who are persons with disabilities, living with HIV, former drug users, former prisoners, or non-Vietnamese nationals.
Vanuatu VUT Asia and the Pacific No
Samoa WSM Asia and the Pacific Yes
Yemen YEM Arab States Yes Macroeconomic policies target 250,000 young women and men to be engaged in employment.
South Africa ZAF Africa Yes Reduce youth unemployment to under 20% in 2030 from 40% in 2024. Increase youth in Basic Education from 50% in 2024 to 80% in 2030. Increase youth in Higher Education from 50% in 2024 to 75% in 2030.
Zambia ZMB Africa Yes
Zimbabwe ZWE Africa Yes • Increase youth participation in decision-making and development processes from 3.3% in 2020 to 25% by 2025. • Increase the number of youth who accessed empowerment opportunities in all sectors of the economy from 16,000 in 2020 to 200,000 by 2025.