What skills will young people need to thrive in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, climate change and rapid social transformation?
On World Youth Skills Day, celebrated each year on 15 July, the answer is becoming increasingly clear: technical expertise alone is not enough. Young people need a balanced set of skills that help them adapt, collaborate, innovate and lead in an uncertain world.
As digital technologies and AI continue to reshape education, work and daily life, digital literacy remains essential. Yet some of the most valuable skills are also the most human. Empathy, communication, critical thinking, creativity, ethical judgement and intercultural understanding help young people navigate change, build trust and contribute to stronger communities.
This year's theme, "Skills for a Shared Future," highlights the need for education and training systems that are not only responsive to labour market demands, but also empower young people to make informed choices, participate in decision-making and shape the societies they want to live in.
For many young people, access to these opportunities remains uneven. Economic uncertainty, technological disruption and persistent inequalities continue to create barriers to quality education, skills development and decent work.
At UN DESA, supporting youth skills development is pivotal. The Department's work recognizes that skills development and well-being go hand in hand. The latest World Youth Report on Youth and Mental Health and Well-being, highlighted the growing pressures many young people face, from economic uncertainty and social isolation to the impacts of digital environments on mental health. Building on these findings, UN DESA works to strengthen youth participation in decision-making through global platforms, such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum and the UN Youth Delegate Programme.
World Youth Skills Day is a reminder that investing in young people is not only an investment in future workers; it is an investment in future leaders, innovators and changemakers.
For more information: World Youth Skills Day