The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have revealed that at least 138 million children were engaged in child labour globally in 2024. According to a joint report by both agencies, titled “Child Labour: Global Estimates 2024, trends and the road forward,” an estimated 54 million of these children were involved in hazardous work that posed serious risks to their health, safety, and development.
The report notes that this figure represents a decline of more than 20 million since 2020, reversing a previous spike recorded between 2016 and 2020. Despite this progress, the world has failed to meet its target of eliminating child labour by 2025. ILO Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo, expressed optimism that the findings of the report offer hope and show that progress is possible.
“Children belong in school, not in labour,” Houngbo said. “Parents must be supported and have access to decent work so that they can afford to ensure that their children are in classrooms and not selling things in markets or on family farms to help support their family.” UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, underscored the need to expand social protection and legal support in eradicating child labour.
The report highlights that the agricultural sector continues to account for the majority of child labour, making up 61% of the global total. This is followed by services at 27%, including domestic work and street vending, and industry at 13%, including mining and manufacturing. Regionally, Asia and the Pacific saw the largest drop in child labour prevalence, while sub-Saharan Africa remains the region bearing the greatest burden, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all children in child labour worldwide.
The report warns that reduced funding for education, social protection, and family livelihoods could push more children into exploitative work, particularly in vulnerable communities. It also raises concerns over shrinking investment in data collection, which could make it more difficult to track and respond to the problem effectively. Child labour, the agencies said, robs children of their right to education, limits future opportunities, and exposes them to physical and psychological harm.
To address the issue, ILO and UNICEF urged governments to scale up investment in social protection measures, such as universal child benefits, to help families avoid sending their children to work. They also recommended strengthening child protection systems, expanding access to quality education, and ensuring decent work for adults and youth alike. The agencies further called on governments to enforce legal and corporate accountability mechanisms to eliminate exploitation in supply chains and safeguard children’s rights.
