Global Labor Market Conference Addresses Youth Employment Crisis as Gen Z Faces Record Challenges

By Anthon Garcia and Abdul Basit

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – As unemployment among young workers reaches concerning levels worldwide, the Global Labor Market Conference has announced a partnership with King’s Trust International to place youth employment at the center of global workforce discussions.

The recently announced collaboration positions King’s Trust International as a knowledge partner for the third edition of GLMC, scheduled for January 26-27, 2026, in Riyadh. The conference will dedicate a full Youth Track panel to addressing what economists describe as a structural crisis facing the newest generation of workers.

The timing reflects growing urgency around youth employment. Recent data shows youth unemployment rates significantly outpacing general joblessness across major economies. In the United States, young workers face a 10.8% unemployment rate compared to 4.3% overall. The disparities are more severe elsewhere: India reports 17% youth unemployment, China 16.5%, and Morocco approximately 36%.

“Addressing the challenges young people face in today’s labour market requires collaboration and shared insight,” said Will Straw, chief executive of King’s Trust International. “Platforms like the GLMC play a vital role in fostering these partnerships, and we are honoured to host a panel on an issue that matters deeply to young people around the world.”

The conference arrives as the narrative around artificial intelligence and job displacement has become widespread, though many economists contend the reality is more complex. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has characterized the current employment landscape as a “low-hiring, low-firing” economy, attributing hiring slowdowns more to corporate caution in uncertain economic conditions than to automation.

A Yale University Budget Lab study found no measurable labor market disruption since ChatGPT’s release in November 2022, while separate research shows Gen Z workers are among the most active adopters of AI tools in workplace settings, with over half reporting regular use for problem-solving.

The challenges extend beyond technology. World Economic Forum research indicates that 41% of organizations expect workforce reductions before 2030 due to automation, yet 70% simultaneously plan to hire for new skills. Employers report skills gaps as their primary hiring barrier, with 63% citing mismatches between available talent and needed capabilities.

King’s Trust International, founded by King Charles III in 2015, operates in approximately 20 countries and has supported more than 100,000 young people through programs in education, employability and entrepreneurship. The organization is launching its Generation Potential campaign, targeting one million additional young people over the next decade.

As part of the GLMC partnership, King’s Trust International has joined the conference’s scientific committee and will moderate a panel discussion examining the priorities and experiences of young workers. The session aims to ensure youth perspectives inform policy development and workforce strategies.

The conference, held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has evolved since its 2023 launch into what organizers describe as a year-round think tank. The event addresses workforce development, technological transformation, economic mobility and evolving work structures through research, partnerships and policy innovation.

“This conference reflects the Kingdom’s continued commitment to advancing international collaboration and developing innovative solutions that strengthen labor markets and enable workers everywhere,” said Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi, Saudi Arabia’s minister of human resources and social development.

GLMC 2026, themed “Future in Progress,” will bring together more than 45 international ministers, including participation in a dedicated ministerial roundtable focused on developing policy solutions. The program spans six thematic areas covering trade shifts, AI workforce impacts, skills development, shadow economy workers, workforce resilience, and aligning labor markets with broader human development.

The conference has introduced new formats this year, including policy workshops for developing solutions, spotlight sessions where speakers present workforce challenges and policy experiments, and academic debates on pressing topics. More than 200 speakers and 7,000 attendees are expected across 50 program segments.

Regional variations in youth employment challenges underscore the need for coordinated responses. In Europe, job precarity has emerged as a defining issue even where unemployment has declined. Spain’s youth unemployment dropped from 40% to 27%, yet young workers face shorter contracts and wage stagnation, cycling through temporary positions in hospitality, retail and technology sectors.

Across Asia, youth unemployment rates run two to three times higher than overall averages. In India, only 2.3% of workers receive formal skills training, compared to 75% in Germany and 96% in South Korea. Africa faces demographic pressure, with 70% of the population under 30 and working-age populations projected to double by 2050, according to OECD projections.

Some adaptation is already visible. Despite entry-level openings declining 29% year-over-year, many young workers are diversifying income sources and adopting new technologies. Apprenticeships and vocational training are gaining traction, with 37% of Gen Z graduates pursuing or already working in blue-collar roles, drawn by stability, compensation and resistance to automation.

Employment practices are shifting in response. Companies are increasingly adopting skills-first hiring approaches, with many dropping degree requirements. In emerging economies, programs such as the African Development Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa initiative support entrepreneurship, training and job creation.

World Economic Forum research projects 78 million net new roles by 2030, even as 22% of current positions undergo structural change. Most employers plan workforce upskilling, with 85% offering retraining programs and 77% providing AI training.

The conference organizers emphasize that solutions require coordinated action across education reform, job creation and expanded pathways that value skills over credentials alone. The partnership with King’s Trust International represents an effort to ensure youth perspectives shape these responses.

For young workers navigating this transition, the stakes are clear. The combination of economic uncertainty, technological change, skills mismatches and structural hiring slowdowns has created what economists describe as unprecedented pressure on a generation entering the workforce.

The January conference aims to translate analysis into actionable policy, with particular focus on ensuring discussions reflect the realities facing young workers globally. As one measure of that commitment, the dedicated Youth Track will position the voices and experiences of Gen Z alongside the ministers, executives and researchers crafting workforce strategies.

The Global Labor Market Conference has partnered with institutions including the World Bank and Takamol Holding on initiatives such as the Global Labor Market Academy, which focuses on research, innovation and partnerships advancing labor market development.

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