High rates of unemployment within younger age groups (particularly 15/16 to 24 years) is a serious economic problem for developed and developing countries. As the structure of industry and the nature of work undergo many changes, workers have to adapt their skills to the new demands viz. zero hours contracts/job insecurity, remote working/new technologies, simply not having a full-time job with a single employer etc.
A report by the Conversation Trust (UK) Ltd in June 2020 said South Africa has among the highest unemployment rates globally with 58% of 15 to24 year olds not in a job, education or training. A UK government survey has shown that unemployment rates for young black men are rising sharply and much faster than for other young people. The August-October 2020 report says “young black men in London are up to three times more likely to be unemployed as young white men. In September 2020 Pierre Frank La Porta, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone said: “Ghana’s youth employment challenge is vast and requires an all-round, deliberate and consistent response”.
Rate of unemployment (15/16 -24 years)
| Country | Age Group | Gender | Year | Unemployment Rate | Source |
| South Africa | 15-24 | Male/female | Nov.2020 | 58% | Conversation Trust UK |
| St. Lucia | 15-24 | Male/female | 2019 | 45.2% | ILO |
| St. Vincent & Gren | 15-24 | Male/female | 2019 | 41.7% | ILO |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 15-24 | Male/female | 2019 | 34.63% | ILO |
| Barbados | 15-24 | Male/female | 2020 | 31.6% | ILO |
| UK | 16-24 | Black male | 2016 | 29% | BTEG |
| UK | 16-24 | Male/female | Aug.2020 | 14.5% | Commons Library |
| France | 15-24 | Male/female | 2019 | 19.15% | Macro Trends |
| Ghana | 15-24 | Male/female | 2020 | 9.46% | ILO |
More recent information shows generally small improvements in the youth unemployment situation in three of the above countries.
St Lucia for 2021, male/female, the rate was 38.69%, Source: Macrotrends
UK April-June 2020, 16-24 years male/female, rate 10.4% Source: Commons Library
France, Dec. 2020, 7.2% Source: Eurostat
South Africa, 15-24 years. Some figures indicate reductions while other figures show a significant decrease eg Q1,2022 to 32.6% SourceStatssa.gov.za and to 66.5% 13 June2022, Source: Stats sa