It’s no secret that today’s youth have it tough. With cost-of-living crises striking all across Australia, a competitive job market, and housing issues, it’s completely normal for young adults to need a little help getting set up.
World Youth Skills Day was created to help the next generation enter the workforce and find suitable work arrangements, and this year, we’re putting together an info pack on youth employment so you know exactly what you’re up against (and how to come out on top!).
Why is World Youth Skills Day Important?
The team behind World Youth Skills Day is fighting for your right to success and leadership. In short, they want to create a brighter future and empower you to make your mark on the world.
To do so, they’re implementing some Suitable Development Goals, otherwise known as SDGs, to make sure that the next generation can thrive. According to the SDG Resources website, these include:
- Quality Education
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Reduced Inequalities
- Climate Action
Why is Youth Employment Such a Big Issue?
To fully understand the importance of World Youth Skills Day, we first have to understand the extent of the issue and what needs to be done to fix our workforce woes.
According to the United Nations:
- 600 million jobs would have to be created over the next 15 years to meet youth employment needs.
- Back in 2021, a whopping 75 million young people were unemployed.
- The youth population will increase by over 78 million between 2021 and 2030.
With these stats in mind, the workforce might seem a little bleak, but the United Nations also states that good-quality apprenticeships, well-designed internships and volunteering initiatives can be great ways for young jobhunters to lock in a rewarding career.
If you want to find one of these opportunities but don’t know where to start, our blog posts are a great way to get career-ready.
What Causes Youth Unemployment?
The International Labour Organization presents a few reasons as to why the youth labour force is shrinking:
More young people are staying in school
While a young, highly educated generation is a great thing, it also means that the youth labour pool is shrinking. In fact, between 1997 and 2017, the youth labour force shrank by 58.7 million despite a growing world population!
Many young people aren’t employed or studying
This is a huge problem in and of itself. However, what’s even worse is that a disproportionate number of NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) are women.
It’s taking a while for graduates to land stable jobs
Even after spending years at high school or university, most youth still find themselves waiting an average of 13.8 months to lock in permanent work.
What’s more, sources claim that young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults and are exposed to more low-quality jobs, market inequalities and longer school-to-work transition periods than adults.
With all this in mind, it’s clear why World Youth Skills Day is so important; in order to get a fair shot at career success, young adults need to be empowered by people at the top!
Unpacking This Year’s Theme
The theme for this year’s World Youth Skills Day 2024 is “Youth Skills for Peace and Development” and highlights the important role that young people play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
Essentially, by highlighting the possibility of a well-equipped generation solving crucial world issues, the World Youth Skills Day team is pointing out the importance of dedicating resources, opportunities, and education to our younger generation!
How to Get Involved
This year’s World Youth Skills Day presents a tonne of exciting opportunities to pick up new abilities. Some of the events we’re most excited for are:
Building an equitable and inclusive future of work that fosters peace, global citizenship and sustainable development
Date and Time: 15th July 2024, 10:00-12:30 Eastern Time
Where: Virtual Event
AI Skills for the Future of Work | A Global Skills Academy Session
Date and Time: 15th July 2024, 8:30 Eastern Time
Location: Virtual Event
However, if these events aren’t quite your thing, head over to the United Nations website; they’ll keep you updated with all the event info you’ll need.
Start Upskilling Today
There’s no better time than today to start preparing yourself for the future, and Explore Careers can help you do it!
This World Youth Skills Day, we encourage you to check out our free career resources and our extensive list of career events; getting ready for the workforce now is the best way to brighten up your future.
