Employment and Social Trends 2026

• Global Unemployment: The rate is projected to remain stable at 4.9% in 2026, representing approximately 186 million people.

• Jobs Gap: A broader measure of labor underutilization, the global jobs gap, is expected to reach 408 million people in 2026.

• Employment Growth: Global growth is projected at 1.0% for 2026. High-income countries face a contraction of 0.1% due to aging populations, while low-income countries are expected to see a 3.1% expansion.