The ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026 is a timely warning for Africa. It reminds us that a low youth unemployment rate in sub-Saharan Africa must not be mistaken for success. Too many young people cannot afford to remain unemployed. They survive through informal, unstable and poorly paid work. The report shows that nearly 9 in 10 young workers in low- and lower-middle-income countries are in informal employment. This is not a demographic dividend. It is a profound decentwork deficit.