Global employment in 2026: A fragile stability

As global labour markets navigate technological change, demographic shifts, and rising uncertainty, the ILO’s new Employment and Social Trends 2026 report offers a clear look at the current state and future prospects of work.

In this episode of the Future of Work podcast, report author Stefan Kühn and ILO trade expert Marva Corley explain why labour-market stability remains fragile despite steady unemployment. They discuss stalled progress on job quality, persistent inequalities, youth employment pressures and shifting trade dynamics, and explore how coordinated action and stronger institutions can advance decent work and social justice in a rapidly changing world.