World Youth Skills Day

World Youth Skills Day History

World Youth Skills Day is an annual observance aimed at raising awareness about the importance of youth skill development and ensuring that young people have the necessary skills to reach their full potential. It focuses on addressing the challenges faced by the younger generation, such as unemployment, inequalities within societies, and the need for adequate training and education for their future careers. The day promotes dialogue among youth, multinationals, governments, and training institutions to create partnerships and exchange best practices for enhancing skill development globally.

The United Nations General Assembly established World Youth Skills Day on 18 December 2014, in response to the challenges faced by youth worldwide, particularly in relation to their professional and personal development. In New Zealand, the observance takes on added significance due to several key concerns. These concerns include a higher unemployment rate for youth compared to the general population, the need to develop future leaders in industries such as information technology, and the desire to bridge the gap between the Māori and non-Māori labour market outcomes.

Various events, workshops, and programmes are held throughout New Zealand to mark World Youth Skills Day. These occasions typically involve educational institutions, governments, and industries collaborating to offer skill-building opportunities and guidance for young people. In addition, platforms such as social media and community events are utilised to share success stories of skill development and to generate discussion around potential improvements. World Youth Skills Day is observed on 15 July each year, fostering an environment where young New Zealanders can continue to develop, innovate, and contribute positively to the nation's progress.

World Youth Skills Day facts

• The theme for World Youth Skills Day in 2022 was Learning and skills for life, work, and sustainable development.
• UNICEF reports that 9 out of 10 adolescent girls and young women are offline in low-income countries.
• According to UNICEF’s Recovering Learning report, only a quarter of young people are on track to acquire job-specific skills
• The government invests in youth skills development through a variety of programs, such as the Youth Guarantee which provides young people with fee-free vocational education and the Mana in Mahi program, which helps unemployed youth gain practical work experience and training opportunities.
• Schools in New Zealand incorporate life skills education such as financial literacy, communication, and problem solving to better prepare students for adulthood and the workforce.

In the News and Trending in NZ for World Youth Skills Day

Top things to do in NZ for World Youth Skills Day

• Learn more about the issues surrounding youth unemployment. This infographic from the International Labour Organization goes into detail about why more than 200 million young people are either unemployed, or have a job but live in poverty.
• Review current job listings to check their requirements. By understanding whether or not jobs are requiring new skills, you can help friends and family better navigate the workforce. You can also better equip yourself if you are looking for employment.
• Visit the Otahuhu Youth Space located in Auckland. It is a dedicated space for young people to participate in workshops and activities focused on personal development, leadership, and communication skills.
• Visit one of Youthline's locations. Youthline's youth development centers across New Zealand offer various workshops, programs, and opportunities that focus on providing essential life skills, mental health support, and career guidance to young people.