With today’s celebration of World Youth Skills Day 2022, the United Nations has noted that it takes place amid concerted efforts towards socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that are interconnected with challenges such as climate change, conflict, persisting poverty, rising inequality, rapid technological change, demographic transition and others.

A ‘Transforming youth skills for the future’ global event, co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations, together with UNESCO, ILO and the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, was said to be aimed at bringing together youth, governments, UN agencies, private sector and civil society representatives to analyse the impact of current crises on youth across the world, and discuss how young people can quickly adapt to the demands of an ever-changing world.

The event got under way today at 10 am (EDT).

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

Since then, World Youth Skills Day has provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organisations, policy-makers and development partners.

Young women and girls, young persons with disabilities, youth from poorer households, rural communities, indigenous peoples, and minority groups, as well as those who suffer the consequences of violent conflict and political instability, continue to be excluded due to a combination of factors.

In addition, the crisis has accelerated several transitions the world of work was already undergoing, which add layers of uncertainty regarding the skills and competencies that will be in demand after the pandemic is overcome.

The United Nations and its agencies, such as UNESCO-UNEVOC, are well placed to help address these challenges by reducing access barriers to the world of work, ensuring that skills gained are recognised and certified, and offering skills development opportunities for out-of-school youth and those not in employment, education or training.

According to the UN, during this ‘Decade of Action for the 2030 Agenda’, the full engagement of young people in global processes is vital to generate positive change and innovation.