ILO Predicts Rise in Southeast Asian Unemployment by 2026

The International Labour Organization (ILO) report, *World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2025*, calculates the number and rate of unemployment in Southeast Asia.

In 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of unemployed was quite high, at 10.6 million people. The percentage of the population unemployed reached 3.2%.

In subsequent years, the number of unemployed showed a downward trend. Specifically, it decreased to 8.9 million with a proportion of 2.6% in 2022.

It further decreased to 8.6 million with a proportion of 2.5% in 2023. The following year, it dropped to 8.5 million with a proportion of 2.4%.

The ILO projects the number of unemployed to be 8.4 million in 2025. However, in 2026, the figure is predicted to increase to 8.6 million.

Nevertheless, the proportion of unemployment remains at 2.4% from 2024 to 2026.

The ILO states that in the Asia and Pacific region, approximately 20% of young people are unemployed. This figure is significantly higher for young women, at 30.4%, compared to young men at 11.3%.

"These figures indicate that young women face greater barriers to accessing employment, education, and training compared to young men in this region," wrote the ILO in the report cited on Saturday (25/1/2025).

The ILO adds that another indicator of difficult access to employment is the employment gap, particularly among the 'marginal' segments of the workforce—those who want a job but are not available, are not actively seeking work, or both.

This category, according to the ILO, includes those unable to work due to various reasons, including caregiving responsibilities.

"This adds to the number of unemployed in this region, totaling 76 million people without jobs, in addition to the 88 million unemployed," the ILO wrote.

(Also read: [Unemployment Despair in Indonesia Increased 2020-2023](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/ketenagakerjaan/statistik/67778a5e52e64/pengangguran-yang-putus-asa-di-indonesia-meningkat-2020-2023))