What is World Youth Skills Day

What is World Youth Skills Day, Really?

World Youth Skills Day is more than just a “day” — it’s a reminder that:

• Young people are the world’s largest generation — there are about 1.2 billion people aged 15–24, roughly 16% of the global population.

• But youth face the highest rates of unemployment and underemployment.

• Many lack the skills employers need, while millions have no chance to get the training they want.

How Did It Start?

• Declared by the UN General Assembly in December 2014 (Resolution A/RES/69/145).

• Proposed by Sri Lanka, which has a strong history of promoting technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

• First celebrated on 15 July 2015 — now marked every year by the UN, UNESCO, ILO, and countries worldwide.

 Why Is It Important?

Here’s the core reason:

Skills are the bridge between education and work.
Without the right skills, young people can’t compete for decent jobs — and economies miss out on their potential.

Key problems:
1️⃣ Youth Unemployment:

• In 2023, about 13% of young people globally were unemployed, nearly 3 times higher than adult unemployment.

• In low-income countries, youth unemployment and underemployment can reach 30%–50%.

2️⃣ Skills Mismatch:

• Millions of jobs are vacant, yet millions are jobless — because the skills youth learn don’t match what employers need.

• Automation and AI are changing skill demands faster than education systems can keep up.

3️⃣ Inequality:

• Girls, young women, rural youth, youth with disabilities, and marginalized communities often have less access to training and good jobs.

• In many places, girls are twice as likely to be NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).

 How is WYSD Celebrated?

Each year, UN agencies organize:

• Global forums: High-level events hosted by UNESCO-UNEVOC, the ILO, and other partners.

• Skills competitions: Many countries run local and regional contests to showcase youth talent in trades, tech, and green skills.

• Stories & reports: The day is used to launch data reports on youth employment trends.

 Focus Areas & Themes

Recent themes:

• 2022: Transforming youth skills for the future

• 2023: Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future

• 2024: Skills for a just transition — focusing on green jobs and the shift to sustainable economies.

Themes highlight:

• Digital skills

• Green skills

• Entrepreneurship

• Lifelong learning

• Inclusion of marginalized groups

 What Are “Skills”?

WYSD emphasizes all kinds of skills:

• Technical/vocational: Plumbing, carpentry, coding, AI, renewable energy installation.

• Soft skills: Communication, teamwork, problem-solving.

• Entrepreneurial: Starting a small business, freelancing.

• Digital: Using new tech, digital marketing, cybersecurity.

Key Global Facts

• By 2030, about 60% of all young people will need new skills to keep up with changing jobs.

• 75 million youth are unemployed worldwide; many millions more are in informal, insecure work.

• Globally, about 21% of young people (15–24) are NEET — meaning they’re not in school, work, or training.

• The COVID-19 pandemic set back skills development by closing schools, training centers, and apprenticeships — an entire generation lost learning time.

Link to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

WYSD directly supports:

• SDG 4: Quality Education — especially Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth with relevant skills.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth — aims to lower youth unemployment and underemployment.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality — calls for equal access to training and jobs for girls and women.

 Examples of Action

Countries & programs:

• Germany’s dual system: Combines classroom learning with apprenticeships — a model admired worldwide.

• Sri Lanka’s TVET Authority: Known for its National Vocational Qualification Framework.

• UNESCO-UNEVOC Centres: A global network of vocational schools helping countries modernize training.

• WorldSkills Competitions: The “Olympics of Skills” — young people compete in trades and technical skills.

Challenges Ahead

• Many countries spend too little on updating TVET curricula.

• Teachers and trainers often lack training in digital and green technologies.

• Stigma still exists: Some youth think vocational skills are for “low achievers,” so they chase degrees instead — but degrees don’t always guarantee jobs.

• Climate change means young people need green skills for new jobs in renewable energy, sustainable farming.

 Quote

“Young people are the engines of the future — but they need the skills to drive it.” — UN Secretary-General (adapted)