World Youth Skills Day: Empowering youth through education and training

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared the 15th of July as World Youth Skills Day. This annual event aims to address unemployment and underemployment challenges by striving for better socio-economic conditions for today's youth. World Youth Skills Day focuses on a specific theme to illuminate critical issues and promote practical solutions each year.

In this article, we will discuss the transformative power of education and training in empowering youth and the role played by teacher and trainer in shaping our youth’s employability skills.

Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future

This year’s theme is "Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future." This highlights the essential role played by teachers, trainers, and educators in providing skills for young individuals to transition into the labour market.

As a training provider, we believe in the power of education and training to transform lives. We aim to help those entering the workforce to develop employability skills.

The essential role of teachers, trainers, and educators

In today's world, young individuals require agile and adaptable skill sets, characterised by technological advancements and shifting labour market dynamics. Education and training play a pivotal role in supporting youth employment, providing young individuals with the right opportunities to learn and develop economic benefits. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) are well-positioned to meet these demands.

Empowering youth through technical and vocational education and training (TVET)

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) focuses on providing affordable quality education and developing technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. It aims to eliminate gender disparity, ensure access for the vulnerable, and address the multiple demands of an economic, social, and environmental nature.

TVET equips youth with the skills required to access the world of work, including skills for self-employment. It enhances responsiveness to changing skill demands, increases productivity, and raises wage levels. Moreover, TVET reduces access barriers to work through work-based learning and offers skill development opportunities for low-skilled and underemployed individuals.

Eye-opening statistics: Challenges in youth employment and education

Understanding the significance of World Youth Skills Day requires us to acknowledge several eye-opening facts from the International Labour Organisation:

• The youth population grew by 139 million between 1997 and 2017, while the youth labour force decreased by 58.7 million, with more young individuals favouring to stay in school.
• Globally, one in five young people is NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training), representing millions of young individuals without a job or educational opportunities.
• On average, young people wait 13.8 months to secure a stable or satisfactory job, reflecting the challenges of transitioning from education to the workforce.
• In emerging and developing economies, almost two out of five young workers live on less than US$3.10 daily.

Conclusion

World Youth Skills Day serves as a platform to recognise the transformative power of education and training in shaping the future of young individuals. We can empower them to contribute to a prosperous and sustainable world by providing them with the skills and support they need.

As a leading e-learning training provider across multiple sectors, we at The Mandatory Training Group offers a range of courses to support young employees entering the workforce. We believe in providing accessible and comprehensive online training opportunities that equip young individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their roles. Together, we can all commit to a future where every young person has access to quality education, lifelong learning opportunities, and a pathway to success.

Click here to see our wide range of employability skills courses and training programmes to help you develop your professional skills.

About the Mandatory Training Group

The Mandatory Training Group is one of the leading UK providers of CPDUK-accredited statutory and mandatory training, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, eLearning software and workforce development solutions for all sectors.

By making things simple and designing interactive e-learning content, we can provide meaningful training programs at all levels and enhance the capacity and resilience of individuals and organisations.

Click here to see our wide range of accredited employability skills courses and training programmes.

References and resources

International labor organization (2023) - What stands between youth and decent jobs?
United Nations (2023) - World Youth Skills Day.

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