BAN KI-MOON SEES 'ALARMING' SPIKE IN GLOBAL UNEMPLOYMENT

Ban Ki-moon Sees 'Alarming' Spike In Global Unemployment

CP | By The Associated Press

Posted: 01/21/2016 8:27 am EST Updated: 01/21/2016 9:59 am EST

BAN KIMOON

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman says projections for rising global unemployment over the next two years are "alarming" and the U.N. chief will keep pushing for job opportunities, especially for youth.

The comments from deputy spokesman Farhan Haq on Wednesday were in response to a new report from the U.N. labour agency projecting that the number of unemployed people will increase by nearly 2.3 million in 2016 and 1.1 million in 2017 as a result of the global economic slowdown last year.

unemployment rate change

The ILO's projection for changes to unemployment, 2015 to 2017. Countries in shades of green will see a decrease in unemployment, while countries in shades of red will see an increase. Canada is projected to see a decrease. (Chart: ILO)

Haq said Ban has been raising the need for new jobs in discussions with business leaders and others at this weeks' World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

According to the International Labor Organization's report, the increase in jobseekers in 2015 occurred mainly in emerging and developing countries.