Youth unemployment crisis continues
The economic crisis abruptly ended the gradual decline in global youth unemployment rates during the period 2002–07. Since 2007 the global youth unemployment rate has started rising again, and the increase between 2008 and the height of the economic crisis in 2009 effectively wiped out much of the gains made in previous years. Globally, the youth unemployment rate has remained close to its crisis peak in 2009. 
Large increases were experienced in particular by the Developed Economies & European Union, Central & South-Eastern Europe (non-EU ) & CIS, Latin America & the Caribbean and South Asia. In the Developed Economies & European Union, as well as in South Asia, little progress has been made in rolling back the impact of the global economic crisis. In North Africa, the youth unemployment rate has increased sharply following the Arab Spring, rising by almost 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2011 and adding to an already very high level of youth unemployment in this region as well as the Middle East.

Economic crisis and youth labour force participation 
The crisis-induced withdrawal from the labour force amounts to 6.4 million young people worldwide, and is particularly pronounced in the Developed Economies & European Union. Pressure on young job seekers will mount further when those young people that have been delaying their entry into the labour market will return to activity, and start searching for work. In contrast, the youth participation rate in Central & South-Eastern Europe (non-EU ) & CIS is higher than expected on the basis of pre-crisis trends, which is likely to be partly poverty-driven.

Temporary employment and part-time work: Transition or trap? 
In developed economies, youth are increasingly employed in non-standard jobs and the transition to decent work continues to be postponed. The growth of temporary employment and part-time work in the past decade, in particular since the global economic crisis suggests that this work is increasingly taken up because it is the only option available. For example, in the European Union youth part-time employment as well as youth temporary employment has grown faster than adult part-time and temporary employment both before and during the economic crisis. 
The trend towards an increasing incidence of temporary contracts has fuelled the debate over labour market flexibility in general, and labour market duality in particular. Although the evidence on the impact of employment protection legislation (EPL) on aggregate employment/unemployment levels is inconclusive, EPL could affect the position of particularly vulnerable labour market groups such as young people.

Education and the labour market 
Education and training are essential for young people to enter the labour market successfully as they increase their potential productivity and employability. In developed economies, education also serves as a shield against unemployment for many youth, and there is a strong link between educational attainment and employment outcomes. In particular, individuals with primary education or less often have the highest unemployment rates, and fare worse than those with higher levels of education at times of crisis. 
However, more human capital development and higher levels of education do not automatically translate into improved labour market outcomes and more jobs. In developing economies, available job openings are limited by small formal sectors, and youth do not necessarily possess the right skills to qualify for the existing openings.Youth employment policies As youth unemployment rates are projected to remain essentially unchanged in 2012, and most regions face major youth employment challenges, youth employment policies warrant the highest priority.

For further information, please go to :
Global Employment Trends for Youth 2012  and Executive summary of the 'Global Employment Trends for Youth 2012'