World Youth Skills Day 2022; July 15th.

FORUM:"Transforming youth skills for the future." World Youth Skills Day 2022.

The observance of World Youth Skills Day 2022 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.

 

Statement by the U.N.Secretary General on World Youth Skills Day 2022; July 15th.

Today, we highlight the importance of transforming youth skills for the future of work.

Young people are disproportionately impacted by interlinked global crises, from climate change to conflicts to persistent poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these fragilities. In 2020 alone, youth employment fell by 39 million. Today, 24 million young people remain at risk of not returning to school.

The pandemic also accelerated the transformation of the labour market, adding uncertainty and widening the digital divide. We must ensure the right of young people to effective and inclusive education, training, and lifelong learning. That requires ramping up youth skills development, while investing in Technical Vocational Education and Training, broadband connectivity, and digital skills.

That is why I will convene a Transforming Education Summit in September that will bring together world leaders, youth and other education actors. Young people are drivers of change and must be fully engaged in decisions affecting their future. Guided by the United Nations Youth 2030 strategy, I urge everyone to act for youth skills development as a priority, at the Summit and beyond.

Together, let us build a more just and thriving workforce, rescue the Sustainable Development Goals and leave no one behind.

I wish you a happy World Youth Skills Day.

U.N. Secreatry-General.

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 recognized and certified, and offering skills development opportunities for out-of-school youth and those not in employment, education or training (NEET). 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.

EVENTS

Transforming youth skills for the future.

15 July 2022, hybrid global event, 10.00 am - 12.30pm (EDT)

The "Transforming youth skills for the future" global event is being co-organized 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. It will bring 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.

YOUth matters: Celebrating skills for the future.

7-8 July 2022, 2.00 - 4.30 pm SGT (GMT+8)

Organised by Temasek Polytechnic (TP), together with UNEVOC Centres, local and regional partners, the symposium will kick off a series of programmes and events to celebrate WYSD Asia-Pacific 2022. It will bring out the voice of youths so that various stakeholders in TVET can better understand the attitudes of youths when it comes to skills needed for the future. Youth Matters: Celebrating Skills for the future.