World Youth Skills Day

Youth at the Crossroads: A Generation with Untapped Potential

There are more youth on the planet than ever before. These young people are poised with all of the potential and energy to be our next generation of leaders, workers and parents. 

That's why the United Nations has decided to celebrate youth through the first ever World Youth Skills Day on July 15, 2015. Fostering the acquisition of skills by youth will enhance their ability to make informed choices with regard to life and work and empower them to gain access to changing labour markets and viable employment opportunities.

While many of today’s youth inhabit a world of unlimited opportunity and possibility, millions more are being left out.

  • Youth represent 25 per cent of the total working age population but make up 40 per cent of the unemployed (ILO, FAO, 2015).
  • An estimated 400 million youth worldwide – or about one third of all youth aged 15 to 24 – suffer from a deficit of decent work opportunities (ILO, FAO, 2015).
  • Almost 74 million young people (aged 15 to 24) were looking for work in 2015 (MDG Report, 2015).
  • Youth, especially young women, continue to be disproportionately affected by limited employment opportunities and unemployment (MDG Report, 2015).
  • Globally, the youth unemployment rate is almost three times higher than the rate for adults (MDG Report, 2015).
  • Sixty-three million youth were out of school in 2012 (EFA, 2015).

These youth are stuck – left at crossroads with little opportunity to reach their full potential due to a lack of employment opportunities and a lack of education and basic skills. Unfortunately, with few choices, many youth are vulnerable to a life of poverty or violence.

To solve this crisis, we must first acknowledge we have a problem. It starts with awareness. Join us – learn more and share.

Youth speak: How education and life skills training Helps young people find jobs

Learn more about World Vision's work with youth