Junior Achievement and ManpowerGroup’s biennial study brings together the voices of 7,465 young people and 641 companies to understand pathways into work — and what stands between young talent and a first quality job.
2026 biennial study
There is activity on both sides. The challenge is the transition between them.
69.7% of young people are looking for work, and 84.9% of surveyed companies hired in the past 12 months. Yet hiring activity and job search coexist without automatically connecting.
The 2026 Young Talent and Companies Report examines the transition into work from both perspectives: young people navigating the labor market, and employers recruiting and developing young talent. It identifies patterns, pathways and points of friction across the region, with standalone analysis for eight countries and four priorities to build the bridge from mismatch to momentum.
Video
The study in a few minutes
Infographic
Key findings at a glance
For most young job seekers, the problem is not a single obstacle: 80.9% face barriers across two or more dimensions at the same time.
- Experience is the main gate: 54.8% of young job seekers and 48.7% of employers name it as a difficulty
- The window narrows with age: employer openness to hiring without experience drops from 52.6% (18–21) to 23.0% (26–29)
- The AI divide is moving from access to application: 91.0% of young people use AI, but only 24% use it for programming or data analysis
- Having a job does not end the search: 37% of satisfied young workers are still looking for another opportunity
Country stories
One region, eight different transitions
The challenge is shared, but the point of friction is not. Each country shows where the bridge into work needs to be built.
Argentina
High search intensity, high friction
are highly active job seekers who still face multiple barriers
vs. 35.1% LATAMOnly 5.9% of employers are broadly open to hiring without prior experience (vs. 17.9% LATAM).
Brazil
A more open entry ecosystem
of employers broadly hire young people without prior experience — and help them develop
vs. 17.9% LATAMThe insight: a comparatively stronger entry route for young people who have not yet built work experience.
Colombia
Experience is the clearest gate
of young job seekers say lack of prior experience makes their search harder
vs. 54.8% LATAM67.6% of employers also struggle to find the experience they expect: both sides point to the same obstacle.
El Salvador
A job opportunity also has to be usable
of young job seekers report schedule or compatibility constraints
vs. 27.9% LATAMThe insight: prepare young people earlier and make first jobs compatible with study, mobility and life.
Guatemala
Getting in is less of the challenge. Moving forward is.
of young people are already working and not looking for another job
vs. 22.8% LATAMThe insight: the challenge shifts from access to progression, turning experience into better opportunities.
Mexico
Companies develop talent — mostly after entry
of employers have strong development systems but still favor experienced candidates at entry
vs. 15.4% LATAMThe opportunity: move some of that development before the hiring gate.
Paraguay
Working, but with less structured careers
of surveyed young people are currently employed
vs. 49.3% LATAMBut 65.1% of employers hire less systematically, with few formal development mechanisms (vs. 28.4%).
Peru
Young people at two very different stages
are not yet actively looking for work, while 34.9% are already established
vs. 7.5% LATAMThe insight: a polarized transition, facing an employer market strongly oriented toward experience.
LATAM comparisons are weighted regional values. Results describe patterns in the surveyed samples, not population estimates.
Perspectives
Why this conversation matters
Opening the door to a first experience
[Quote pending: 35–45 word note signed by Noël Zemborain.]
It’s not training alone — it’s how companies design entry
[Quote pending: 35–45 word note signed by Mónica Flores Barragán.]
Downloads
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The full report contains the evidence behind every finding and country story.
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Full report
The complete regional analysis, eight country reports, youth pathways, employer models, AI analysis, methodology, glossary and references.
Download reportComplete the form to download
Executive visual brief
Key findings, country stories for Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru, and four priorities to build the bridge.
Download briefBuild the bridge
From mismatch to momentum
The transition improves when young people can demonstrate what they can do — and when employers create pathways that allow potential to become experience. Expand recognized first experience, connect learning with evidence, differentiate support by pathway, and strengthen entry and progression. Sharing the study helps too.
Research developed by Junior Achievement Americas and ManpowerGroup — October 2026. All rights reserved.