PURPOSE: The World Youth Skills Day, observed annually on 15 July, focuses on the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. WYSD intends to raise awareness of the importance of investing in youth skills as a means of promoting employment and sustainable development. The United Nations and its agencies, such as UNESCO-UNEVOC, are well placed to help address these challenges by reducing access barriers to the world of work, by ensuring that skills gained are recognized and certified, and offering skills development opportunities for out-of-school youth and those not in employment, education or training (NEET).
FORUM: “Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills.“ World Youth Skills Day 2025. The theme focuses on Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes economies through Artificial Intelligence (AI), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must evolve to equip youth with future-ready skills. AI is transforming how we live, learn and work — but it also poses serious risks if not implemented equitably. This matters because AI is rapidly changing TVET by : Personalizing learning through intelligent tutoring systems. By Supporting immersive training using virtual reality (VR). By Streamlining certification and career guidance. Modernizing curricula and aligning training with labour market needs. But without systemic reform, the digital divide will grow, especially for marginalized youth. While AI brings opportunities, it also presents major challenges in TVET;AI systems can reinforce gender and geographic disparities; Many teachers lack confidence in using AI tools; Most TVET institutions lack the capacity to adopt advanced AI tools; Many regions lack funding to scale up AI-driven learning; AI’s reliance on data and lack of transparency raises critical questions; AI can amplify hate speech, fake news and cyber threats if not well governed; Women and marginalized groups remain significantly underrepresented in AI fields; Over-reliance on AI risks undermining essential human elements like mentorship and teamwork. We invite governments, educators, youth, policy-makers and tech developers to come together to Advocate for ethical, inclusive and human-centered AI in TVET; To Collaborate globally to share best practices and fund digital skills training; To Support grassroots innovations that increase youth employability; To Amplify youth voices in decision-making about the future of work. Be part of shaping an inclusive, ethical and empowering future for all youth through AI and digital skills. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #15July, #WYSD, #WorldYouthSkillsDay.
EVENTS: This July 15th marks a dual milestone: the 10th anniversary of World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) and the 5th anniversary of the Global Skills Academy (GSA).
At UNHQ; On July 15th; from 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM ET(14:30 pm - 16.30 pm EST, Paris time) to observe the World Youth Skills Day 2025, a hIgh level event entitled “Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills.’’ organized by the Permanent Mission of Portugal and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations New York, in collaboration with UNESCO-UNEVOC, the International Labour Organization, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, with Member States, young experts, social partners, teachers and educators, and other stakeholders, will be held. This event will bring also together students, governments, United Nations agencies, the private sector, and civil society representatives, to emphasize the urgent need to integrate digital and AI skills into learning systems, to empower young people to bridge digital divides, access emerging labour market opportunities and to build inclusive, sustainable, peaceful and resilient societies. More details on the event Register to participate and Watch the livestream!
From UNESCO; On July 15th, from 9:30-15:50 CEST (Paris time) A High-level panel discussions with UN officials, policy-makers, educators and youth leaders will be held at the Learning Planet Institute in Paris; The Hybrid event will be interpreted to French. Read the Provisional concept note, the Participant's logistic note. Get the Agenda. Register to participate online!
ACTIVITIES: This two-part intensive bootcamp is designed to equip young people with the essential skills needed to thrive in an automated world. It features a comprehensive curriculum and immersive experiences that build digital literacy, technical expertise, and soft skills. Up to 500 graduates and learners will participate in 10 self-paced modules—delivered six weeks ahead of the celebration—that cover a broad range of skills: View the 10 skills for the future of work.
The Skills in Action Photo Competition 2025 will be held. If you are an amateur or professional photographer with an interest in youth skills? Don’t miss your chance to enter the UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition. You are eligible to participate as long as: you are at least 18 years old and you are the owner or copyright holder of the photo entry/entries. Click to learn more!
PUBLICATION: The youth survey report will be available after the results presentation during the live event on July 15th to explain how young people are navigating both the opportunities and challenges of the digital era. While 62% of youth are already using AI in real-world contexts. Read more
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Youth Skills Day 2025; July 15th.
PODCASTS: Let’s together youth, governments, UN agencies, private sectors and civil society representatives to analyse the impact of current crises on youth across the world, and explore how young people can quickly adapt to the demands of an ever-changing world. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: The UNESCO-UNEVOC invited young people between the ages of 15 and 35 to showcase how they are leveraging digitalization and artificial intelligence to transform their everyday life, education and training, solve real-world challenges and seize new opportunities in their communities. Below is a compilation of selected youth voices. We believe #SkillsChangeLives. Through the power of skills individuals, communities, and countries are propelled towards a more prosperous future. Join us to highlight the importance of youth skills for the future. We have the power to rewrite the narrative and shape a future full of possibilities for all young people. Join the call to action and Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
ACTIONS
ORGANIZERS
In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. Since then, World Youth Skills Day events have provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy makers and development partners. Participants have highlighted the ever-increasing significance of skills as the world is embarking on a transition towards a sustainable model of development.
Celebrate the power of technical and vocational education and training to transform lives & call for improved access to skills development for young people everywhere.
Engage young people in SGs; During this Decade of Action for the 2030 Agenda, the full engagement of young people in global processes is vital to generate positive change and innovation.
PHOTO COMPETITION
Are you an amateur or professional photographer with an interest in youth skills? Don’t miss your chance to enter the UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition! Your photos should capture green and digital skills in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Entrepreneurial learning for TVET institutions helps TVET institutions to focus on what really drives entrepreneurial learning by providing the tools to assess the needs of the target group and the framework to explore the added value of an entrepreneurial learning ecosystem. Learn more about it.
The World Youth Skills Day is co-organized in parterships with the UNESCO-UNEVOC; The Permanent Mission of Portugal; The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, together with UNESCO, The International Labour Organization (ILO); The Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth; The World Bank Group; The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
With the collaboration of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the Worldskills, the Institute for the Future (IFTF), With the participation of universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions, Teachers/Educators, the Civil society organizations, the Public/Private sectors and non-Governmental Organizations.