This joint ILO and World Bank report synthesizes over three decades of impact evaluation evidence across 62 countries to assess the impact of Active Labour Market Programmes (ALMPs) on young people's employment and earnings outcomes.
How can policymakers and practitioners design youth employment programmes that deliver results at scale? Which interventions are most effective in helping young people access decent work? And what lessons can be drawn from global experience to inform future investments?
The new ILO–World Bank report What Works to Improve Job Opportunities for Young People: Evidence from Active Labour Market Programmes provides the most comprehensive synthesis of evidence on youth employment interventions to date. Drawing on 228 studies across 62 countries and more than 5,000 treatment effect estimates, the report examines the effectiveness of active labour market programmes (ALMPs), including skills training, entrepreneurship promotion, employment services, wage subsidies and public works programmes.
The findings confirm that well-designed ALMPs can generate meaningful improvements in youth employment and earnings, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Positive impacts are strongest among young women, disadvantaged youth and participants under the age of 25. The review also identifies key success factors associated with stronger outcomes, including programme duration, certification, public-private partnerships, integrated service delivery and strong implementation quality. Importantly, the report shows that nearly three-quarters of studies assessing cost-effectiveness found that programme benefits outweighed costs.
The publication was finalized with the support of the European Commission-funded project Supporting Youth Employment and Investment in Skills in Developing Countries, which seeks to strengthen the evidence base for youth employment policymaking and investment. The report was officially launched on 30 April 2026 during a joint ILO–World Bank webinar that brought together policymakers, development partners, researchers and practitioners from around the world. During the event, the European Commission contributed as a discussant, highlighting the importance of rigorous evidence in informing policy decisions, guiding investments and improving the effectiveness of youth employment interventions.
The discussion extended beyond the findings of the review to explore their implications for policy and practice. Participants reflected on the scale of the global youth employment challenge, noting that nearly one in five young people worldwide remains outside employment, education or training, with young women disproportionately affected. Speakers stressed the importance of moving beyond identifying "what works" towards understanding how successful interventions can be adapted, financed and scaled within different country contexts. Examples from countries such as Benin and Bosnia and Herzegovina illustrated the value of integrated approaches that combine training, employment services, life skills development, employer engagement and sustained support for young people during their transition into work.
For members of the Youth Employment Expert Network, the report offers a valuable resource to inform programme design, policy dialogue and investment decisions. As the Network continues to promote peer learning and evidence-based solutions across countries, the findings provide a common reference point for discussing what interventions deliver results, under what conditions, and how they can be adapted to local realities.
We encourage Network members to explore the report, reflect on how its findings relate to their own experience, and share examples from their countries that either confirm, challenge or enrich the evidence presented. Through continued exchange and collective learning, the Network can help bridge the gap between global evidence and national action, ultimately contributing to more effective policies and programmes that expand decent work opportunities for young women and men.
Find the Full Study attached.
For more information, see the official website: The Impact of Active Labour Market Programmes on Youth | International Labour Organization