The number of unemployed young people worldwide will reach nearly 75 million this year, according to new statistics released on Monday by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

A statement, which was released in New York on Monday, said the figure was four million higher than in 2007 and the projected numbers were expected to drop by 2016.

It said that while the global economic crisis meant that youth in all regions had been affected but those in developed countries have been especially hit hard.

According to the statistics, the situation remains stable in sub-Saharan Africa where youth unemployment rate of 11.5 per cent has held since 2005.

It stated that large increases were experienced especially by the developed economies and European Union, Central and South-Eastern Europe (non-EU, Latin America and the Caribbean and South Asia.)

It said in the developed economies and European Union, as well as in South Asia, little progress had been made in rolling back the impact of the global economic crisis.

It said that in North Africa, the youth unemployment rate had increased sharply following the Arab Spring, rising by almost five per cent between 2010 and 2011 adding to an already very high level of youth unemployment in the region as well as the Middle East.

The statistics said large differences in regional youth unemployment rates remained, while all regions face major youth employment challenges.

“Even in East Asia, the youth unemployment rate in 2011 was 2.8 times higher than the adult rate.

“Apart from the immediate negative economic and social effects of high youth unemployment, it is important to consider its detrimental effects on future employment and wages,”it said.

On the economic crisis and youth labour force participation, the statistics noted that many young people are discouraged by high youth unemployment rate and have therefore given up the search for a job or postponed it to pursue their studies.

“If the unemployment rate is adjusted for the drop-out induced by the economic crisis, the global youth unemployment rate for 2011 would rise from 12.6 per cent to 13.6 per cent.

“The crisis-induced withdrawal from the labour force amounts to 6.4 million young people worldwide, and is particularly pronounced in the developed economies and European Union.

“Pressure on young job seekers will mount further when those young people that have been delaying their entry into the labour market will return to activity, and start searching for work,” the statement  said.

It said in contrast, youth participation rate in Central and South-Eastern Europe (non-EU) was higher than expected on the basis of pre-crisis trends, which was likely to be partly poverty-driven.