The number of young unemployed across the world has increased from 74 million to 85 million, rising by 14.8 per cent between 1995 and 2005, stated a report released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) office today.

The highest regional youth unemployment rate has been observed in the Middle East and North Africa at 25.7 per cent and South Asia 10 per cent, including India.

Central and Eastern Europe (non-EU) and CIS had the second highest rate in the world with 19.9 per cent unemployment. Sub-Saharan Africa's rate was 18.1 per cent, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (16.6 per cent), South East Asia and the pacific ( 15.8 per cent), the developed economies and European Union (EU) (13.1 per cent), and East Asia (7.8 per cent).

The ILO report estimates that at least 400 million decent and productive employment opportunities simply put, new and better jobs will be needed in order to reach the full productive potential of today's youth.

It lamented that of the 1.1 billion young people aged 15 to 24 worldwide, one out of three is either seeking but unable to find work, has given up the job search entirely or is working but living on less than $2 a day.