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July 15, 2026

World Youth Skills Day

World Youth Skills Day

Overview

World Youth Skills Day raises awareness about the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship, highlighting the critical role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in addressing global youth unemployment.

Official Details

  • Date: July 15
  • Proclaimed by: UN General Assembly Resolution 69/145 (December 18, 2014)
  • First officially celebrated globally on: July 15, 2015
  • Resolution was spearheaded by: Sri Lanka with assistance from the G77 and China
  • 2026 theme: "Skills for a shared future"

Key Statistics

  • Over 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 live globally
  • 1 in 5 young people are currently Not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEET)
  • Young women make up 3 out of 4 of the global NEET youth population
  • Youth are globally three times more likely than adults to be unemployed
  • An estimated 600 million jobs need to be created over the next 15 years to meet youth employment needs

Actions for General Users

  • Mentor or tutor a young person in your specific field of expertise
  • Learn about and advocate for accessible vocational and technical training in your area
  • Support youth-led startups, community initiatives, and small businesses
  • Help a young person build essential digital, technical, or interview skills
  • Participate in local career fairs, skills-sharing workshops, or school speaking events

Actions for Businesses

  • Offer paid internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level training programs
  • Partner with local technical schools (TVET) to align educational curricula with industry demands
  • Invest in the continuous upskilling, reskilling, and digital literacy of young employees
  • Establish internal mentorship and clear career development pathways for junior staff
  • Commit to inclusive hiring practices that focus on core competencies rather than strict experience barriers

Covered SDGs

  • SDG 4 (Quality Education)
  • SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
  • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
  • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
  • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)