World Youth Skills Day 2025: Empowering Youth Through AI and Digital Skills

July 15, 2025 – Marking the 10th Anniversary

Introduction

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 15th as World Youth Skills Day, recognizing the crucial role of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. This year, the theme focuses on youth empowerment through AI and digital skills, crucial in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  AI is transforming our world, but its equitable implementation is vital.  On this day, let us come together to empower young people with the skills needed to navigate these changes and create a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful future.

A Powerful Force for Change

The power of youth to drive change is undeniable.  As highlighted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, young people are not just learners; they are co-creators of a fairer digital future.  Shramin, a Bangladeshi system administrator, embodies this spirit, demonstrating how young people can build skills and break barriers, particularly for women in tech.  This year's celebration of World Youth Skills Day underscores the urgent need to connect youth skills with real opportunities.

The Importance of TVET in Shaping a Future-Ready Workforce

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  The Incheon Declaration: Education 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 emphasize the importance of affordable quality TVET, equipping youth with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. TVET is crucial in addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and supporting transitions to green economies.  It can improve responsiveness to changing skill demands, increase productivity and wages, and reduce access barriers to the world of work.

Real-World Examples of Success

Stories like that of Alhadgie Faal, a 24-year-old Gambian who received training in vegetable production and now runs a successful business growing high-value vegetables and fruits, including strawberries, demonstrate the transformative power of skills development.

Challenges and Facts

Despite the importance of youth skills development, significant challenges remain:

Economic Disengagement:  Approximately 450 million youth (7 out of 10) are economically disengaged due to a lack of adequate skills.
NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) :Over 40% of young people were NEET in 2022, with significant gender disparities.
Digital Divide:  Limited access to digital devices and the internet affects many young people.  90% of adolescent girls and young women in low-income countries are offline, and even in wealthier nations, insufficient digital learning is commonplace.
 Cyberbully: Insufficient legal frameworks addressing cyberbullying in education (only 16% of countries have laws, and 38% enacted since the pandemic).

World Youth Skills Day 2025 Event Highlights

World Youth Skills Day 2025, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the UN, UNESCO, ILO, and the UN Youth Office, will feature:

High-level panel discussio: nsInvolving UN officials, policymakers, educators, and youth leaders at the Learning Planet Institute in Paris and UN Headquarters in New Yor

Focus on AI and girls' empowerment:  "Rewiring the future: How AI can empower girls and youth for the green transition in Asia-Pacific"

Call to Action

We invite you to join us on July 15, 2025, by using the hashtags #WorkLifeReady and #YouthLead.  Ready-to-use materials from the WYSD Trello board (assets under embargo) will be released on the day, allowing you to engage youth groups and networks.  Let's collectively empower the next generation with the skills they need for a sustainable future.

Resources & Further Information

* Youth employment and entrepreneurship
* YouthForesight Platform
* Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth
* Skills and Lifelong Learning Knowledge Sharing Platform
* UNICEF's Generation Unlimited
* UNESCO
* UNESCO-UNEVOC
* Global Education Coalition
* Global Issues: Youth