November 2025 – According to the 2024 ILO-UNICEF Global Estimates, around 137.6 million children are involved in child labour worldwide, with 54 million performing dangerous tasks. The majority – 61% – work in agriculture. Another 27% are in the services sector, which includes domestic work in private homes, while 13% are employed in industries such as construction, manufacturing and mining. A gender divide is also evident: boys are more likely to be found in industrial jobs, whereas girls tend to be concentrated in service roles and household labour.
In conflict-affected countries like Sudan and Palestine, ILO findings show that war and forced displacement sharply worsen child labour and severe exploitation. This happens as education systems collapse and labour inspection and social protection mechanisms break down. Global trade unions emphasise that lasting peace and a safe, open civic environment are fundamental requirements for addressing these abuses.