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OECD EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK 2026
Labour markets continue to be resilient, even as signs of weakening emerge
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In May 2026, the average OECD unemployment rate was 4.9%, with important regional gaps. Local labour markets are also being reshaped by trade and technology shocks, including AI.
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Labour markets continue to be resilient, even as signs of weakening emerge
OECD labour markets have continued to show resilience over the past year, but there have been new signs of weakening with a slowdown in the growth in employment and labour force participation. The average OECD unemployment rate remained relatively stable at 4.9% in May 2026, with around two thirds of OECD countries seeing a slight increase. The average employment and labour force participation rates in the OECD remained at or close to record levels, reaching 72.1% and 76.7% respectively in Q1 2026.
Young university graduates are also at an increasingly high risk of unemployment compared to other workers, a rising trend that began well before the spread of generative AI models, suggesting more complex root causes.
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