Geneva, Switzerland – The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has disclosed that the number of people without jobs globally stands at 402 million in 2024. This figure was revealed in the May edition of the ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook report.
The report clarifies that the global ‘Jobs Gap’ measures the number of individuals who are without a job but desire one. Of the 402 million people without jobs, 183 million are officially counted as unemployed.
A deeper analysis highlighted significant disparities in the job market, particularly affecting women in low-income countries, including Nigeria. The jobs gap for women in these regions reaches a striking 22.8 percent, compared to 15.3 percent for men. In contrast, high-income countries see a jobs gap of 9.7 percent for women and 7.3 percent for men.
Globally, the report indicates that 45.6 percent of working-age women will be employed in 2024, compared to 69.2 percent of men. Despite these challenges, the report predicts a slight improvement in the global unemployment rate, which is expected to drop to 4.9 percent from 5 percent in 2023.
ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo commented on the report, stating: “Today’s report reveals critical employment challenges that we must still address. Despite our efforts to reduce global inequalities, the labor market remains an uneven playing field, especially for women. To achieve a sustainable recovery whose benefits are shared by all, we must work towards inclusive policies that take into consideration the needs of all workers. We must place inclusion and social justice at the core of our policies and institutions. Unless we do, we will fall short of our objective to ensure strong and inclusive development.”
This development comes amidst a rise in Nigeria’s unemployment rate, which increased to 5 percent in the third quarter of 2023 from 4.2 percent in Q2.
