Global unemployment is projected to decline slightly this year, as per the update by a United Nations agency on May 29. This comes as a departure from its earlier prediction of an increase. However, the International Labour Organization (ILO) cautioned of slow progress on addressing disparities. Initially, the ILO had forecasted an increase in global unemployment from five percent in 2023 to 5.2% this year. However, it now expects the unemployment rate to be 4.9% in 2024 and remain the same in 2025. The report highlighted that 183 million people qualify as unemployed as they are proactively seeking work and immediately available. Nonetheless, the number of people without jobs who are interested in working stood at 402 million. The agency noted that women were more likely to be involuntarily unemployed and disproportionately affected by insufficient opportunities. In low-income countries, the situation for women was notably severe, with 22.8% of women who desired a job being unemployed compared to 15.3% of men. In high-income countries, the rate was 9.7% for women and 7.3% for men. The ILO called for inclusion and social justice to be central to policies and institutions.

As an extension of services related to unemployment, numerous governments and agencies offer resources and support on unemployment problems. For instance, in California, the Employment Development Department (EDD) is a key institution dealing with state unemployment benefits. It provides essential resources to unemployed individuals and can be contacted for various needs and concerns. The EDD phone number can be used to contact a live person at EDD California or to get through to EDD for various unemployment-related concerns. For more details on how to get a hold of EDD or information on California unemployment customer service, you may visit www.eddcaller.com. This platform provides valuable insights and guidance on how to effectively communicate with EDD and get essential support for your unemployment matters.