Hello Everyone,
It is a pleasure to join you, even though just through a video message, for the event on “Digital Skills in the Post-COVID Era”. Thank you to Fordham University for this invite.
Many young people have been hurt by the present pandemic, as they were not able to fully continue their education remotely, due to the digital divide. In fact, not all have access to internet or the financial means to afford buying a computer. Other youth have lost their jobs, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has raised the levels of youth unemployment in both developing and developed countries; and those who had to pay an even higher price are girls and young women.
At the same time, because of the present pandemic, digitization has accelerated among young people. It is more important then ever for youth to improve their digital skillsets, so to increase their employment options in the new job market, dictated by the fourth industrial revolution.
The International Labour Organization in its report entitled “Global Employment Trends for Youth 2020 “ highlights the need for effective policies if we want to ensure that new technologies have a positive impact on youth employment. Digital technologies present an excellent opportunity to strengthen employment services and job matching which can help young people to cope better with the demands of the digital economy. Youth enrolment in education shows positive trends; for this trend to continue, it has to walk hand in hand with the needs of the private sector and the role of the public sector. Policy makers should be attentive to include the voices of young people in the social dialogue.
Consultation among this set of actors - youth, the public and the private sector – are the basis of sustainable progress and social justice. It is indeed essential that young people are included and represented in tripartite dialogue on the future of work. Also it makes sense that young people have a voice in the current education system and policy decisions that are shaping their digital future.
I wish you a fruitful event and I trust you can learn much more from the other speakers, who will present you with the perspective of the private sector on the digital skills required by the labor market in the post-COVID era.
Thank you !