Youth unemployment reaches ten-year highs across 18 global regions

Youth unemployment has become a global trend impacting the Russian labor market, characterized by a structural mismatch between graduate expectations and industry needs. According to Vladimir Pankratov, Deputy Dean of the Law Faculty at the Academy of Labor and Social Relations, the crisis is driven by the disappearance of traditional entry-level roles as automation replaces routine tasks. The International Labour Organization (ILO) report "Global Trends in Youth Employment—2026" indicates that 67 million young people worldwide are currently unemployed. In 18 countries and regions, unemployment among citizens aged 20 to 24 has reached a ten-year high, excluding the pandemic period. Structural Mismatch in Russia In Russia, youth unemployment rates range from 17% to 22%. This trend is structural rather than absolute; while vacancies often exceed the number of applicants, the requirements of employers and the ambitions of candidates do not align. Specifically, graduates frequently seek flexible office work, whereas the industrial sector requires personnel for multi-shift production.