14 January 2026 20:34

The global average unemployment rate will stand at 4.9% at the end of 2026, according to a forecast by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Those figures effectively predict levels to remain the same as they have in 2025, which equals around 186 million people who are thought to become unemployed by the end of this year.

According to the UN agency, the number of jobs in wealthy countries will grow by 0.5%, while poorer countries will experience a larger increase, by 3.1%. This reflects population ageing in richer nations, where fewer people of working age are able to find or retain employment. In Europe, unemployment is expected to remain at 5.5%, while in the United States and Canada, it is set to rise in the medium term.

However, the ILO makes a point of highlighting that being employed does not necessarily guarantee a decent income. The report notes that around 300 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty, earning less than $3 a day. In many countries in Africa and Latin America, more than half of the population is employed in the informal sector of the economy.

By Nazrin Sadigova

 

Caliber.Az

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