The ICFTU policy on youth promotes an integrated and rights based approach towards decent work for all young people with an active involvement of youth in all processes. The aims of the ICFTU policy are:

• Creating more decent jobs for young people.
• Ensuring the quality of existing and new jobs.
• Enhancing skills and qualifications and ensuring access to education for all.
• Improving the transition from school to work, matching employees with employers, and shortening the time youth might find themselves unemployed.

Facts on Youth Employment

• One in five people in the world are between 15 and 24 years old. Some 85% of them live in developing countries.
• 88 million young people are unemployed. A much higher number are underemployed.
• The unemployment rate for young people is two to four times higher than for adults.
• In over a quarter of industrialised countries, young women's unemployment rate is 20% higher than that of young men.
• Unprotected and precarious jobs in the 'informal economy' account for up to 93% of all jobs available to young people, wages here are 44% lower than in the 'formal economy', and protection and benefits are non-existent.

source: ILO