World Youth Skills Day: 5 Essential Skills Youth Around the World Need to Thrive

By Julieta Ocampo

This World Youth Skills Day, learn about five critical skills youth around the world need to thrive. Then read about a few young people who are using these newfound skills to build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in July 2024 and updated in June 2026 to reflect the latest World Youth Skills Day theme, data, and youth-skills guidance.

What is World Youth Skills Day? (And Why July 15 Matters)

World Youth Skills Day is a United Nations observance held every year on July 15 to highlight the importance of equipping young people with the skills they need for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. It’s a global call to governments, educators, employers, and organizations to invest in the technical, digital, and life skills that help youth build better livelihoods — and to recognize how central skilled, empowered young people are to inclusive economic growth.

For TechnoServe, the day reflects our commitment to youth economic empowerment. 

According to the International Labour Organization’s Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 report, the ILO estimates the global youth unemployment rate at roughly 13% —  meaning young people are more than three times as likely to be unemployed compared to adults. Youth in the Global South particularly face challenges, including high unemployment rates, limited access to quality education, and insufficient job opportunities. Skill development is essential to bridge these gaps, empower young people to build successful careers, and improve their livelihoods and communities.

That is why we are helping young people gain the skills, connections, and confidence to create viable businesses and improve their incomes. This long-term investment will outlast cash aid and set young people up for a more secure future. 

What is Youth Economic Empowerment for TechnoServe?

Youth economic empowerment (YEE) is the process of engaging and equipping young people (ages 18 to 30) with the skills, knowledge, networks, and resources they need to contribute to and participate in the economy and reach their full economic potential. In 2025, TechnoServe’s programs benefited more than 46,315 youth.

The Origins of World Youth Skills Day at the United Nations

The United Nations General Assembly established World Youth Skills Day on December 18,  2014, and it has been observed every July 15 since 2015. The aim was to focus global attention on youth employment, decent work, and the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) that equip young people to participate fully in their economies. Each year, the United Nations General Assembly and its partners mark the day with a theme and a wave of campaigns and skill-building initiatives worldwide.

We join the celebration by discussing five critical skills youth around the globe need to thrive.

World Youth Skills Day vs. International Youth Day

These two United Nations days are easy to confuse. World Youth Skills Day (July 15) focuses specifically on skills for employment and entrepreneurship. International Youth Day (August 12) is a broader observance of issues facing young people — from civic participation to mental health. Both elevate youth, but they fall on different dates and carry different themes.

The 2026 Theme of World Youth Skills Day 

The 2026 theme for World Youth Skills Day is “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills.“ The theme focuses on preparing young people for a future that is shaped by technology, but to do so thoughtfully, in a way that is equitable and sustainable. 

According to the International Telecommunication Union’s Facts and Figures report, a stark global digital divide persists, with roughly 94% of people in high-income countries using the internet compared to just 23% in low-income nations. At TechnoServe, we integrate this focus into our market-led, skills-first approach, ensuring that our young entrepreneurs have the digital tools and practical know-how to modernize their businesses and thrive in an increasingly connected economy.

Building Essential Soft Skills

Soft skills such as leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and teamwork are key for personal and professional growth. These skills help youth connect with others, present their ideas clearly, and work well in any work environment. By focusing on training these skills, we can help young people develop the tools to stand out in the job market, find good jobs, and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities. 

Arturo Landaverde, a woodworker, furniture builder, and designer, started his entrepreneurial journey in San Salvador. At age 23, he bought his first machine to build canvases for local artists. Ten years later, he is a thriving entrepreneur leading a team of 10 people (ages 22 to 33) who build custom furnishings for offices and residences. His initial motivation to start his own business originated from seeing his older sisters struggle to find jobs despite their college education. 

“If I don’t start building my own business, I will probably end up struggling too,” Arturo realized. When he first started, he lacked the tools and vision to determine what to do next. In 2017, Arturo joined the Crece tu Empresa program, an initiative focused on supporting young entrepreneurs with business training and personalized mentorship, working with them to create a business model to help grow their businesses. Arturo started the entrepreneurship curriculum, which helped him develop his leadership skills. He understood that he needed help to continue developing and growing his business.

He acknowledges that the key to having a thriving business has been to surround himself with specialized talent that would complement his skills while fostering a culture of leadership and collaboration within his team. Though leading a team can be challenging, he inspires others by promoting cooperation and giving space for team-building activities, helping the group connect on a human level. 

Building Success: Business and Financial Skills

Business skills and financial literacy are the bread and butter of entrepreneurial success and TechnoServe’s work. Learning how to create a business plan, manage finances, and understand the market can help youth start their own businesses or bring valuable skills to existing companies. In many cases, it may also create a ripple effect. A young entrepreneur with business training might open their own business, creating jobs for others in their community. 

By teaching business and finance skills, young people learn to navigate the economy, seize opportunities, and build sustainable livelihoods, ultimately helping to reduce unemployment and drive economic growth in their regions. This knowledge is crucial to their long-term success and stability in the workforce.

Baranon Houdou, a 28-year-old from Benin, is a participant in TechnoServe’s BeniBiz program, a business accelerator supporting entrepreneurs with the skills they need to build prosperous businesses, economies, and food-secure communities.

Baranon discovered his potential through a comprehensive training process. Initially a small-scale beekeeper, Baranon learned the importance of goal-setting and entrepreneurship. Through the program, he transitioned from a struggling entrepreneur to a successful beekeeper and business owner. 

“I learned that bees play an important role in improving crop yields. I started with just three hives, but with BeniBiz’s guidance, I turned it into a thriving business,” Baranon shared. The training taught him to manage his time and finances effectively, setting clear goals and planning meticulously. This new knowledge improved his livelihood and made him a reference point in his community.

Young Women Entrepreneurs Build Skills

According to the ILO, around 1 in 4 young people worldwide are NEET — not in employment, education, or training — and the rate is highest among young women. In fact, the ILO states that young women are twice as likely to be in the NEET status as young men. This highlights the urgency to provide young women with access to the skills they need to start or grow businesses. 

TechnoServe’s youth skills programs focus especially on empowering women economically. For Djoule Bonna, a 27-year-old from Benin, who also participated in the BeniBiz program, her new skills were life-changing. She found the knowledge acquired in business management, marketing, and customer retention particularly helpful. Djoule also learned essential basics like accounting, bookkeeping, and the importance of savings. But the most profound impact was the financial support she received to open her own hair salon.

Navigating the Modern World: Technical and Digital Skills

Technical skills are essential in today’s job market. Whether it’s using computers or learning to operate machinery, these skills open doors to a wide range of job opportunities. TechnoServe’s approach to building technical curricula is informed by local market needs and by meeting youth where they are in their developmental journey. 

This includes helping young people develop digital skills to navigate the modern workplace, connect with employers, and stay competitive. These skills ensure that young people are included in the digital age and have the confidence and ability to thrive in a tech-driven world. For Arturo and Baranon, familiarizing themselves with digital marketing materials and drawings has been critical to attracting new customers and improving the quality of their products.

How to Observe World Youth Skills Day

You don’t have to be a policymaker to mark World Youth Skills Day. Anyone can help equip young people to thrive:

• Learn and Share. Read about youth skills gaps and share credible information — including this post — to raise awareness on July 15.
• Mentor or hire. Offer mentorship, internships, or first jobs to young people in your community or industry.
• Support skills programs. Back organizations that train youth in business, financial, technical, and digital skills — like TechnoServe’s youth economic empowerment work — so the impact lasts long after the day itself.
• Champion decent work. Advocate for training and employment pathways that give young people real, dignified opportunities rather than short-term aid.

The truth behind World Youth Skills Day is simple: when young people are equipped with the right skills, they find better jobs — and create them!

On World Youth Skills Day 2026, we celebrate the importance of equipping young people with essential skills for their personal and professional growth. By focusing on soft skills, business skills, financial literacy, technical skills, and digital literacy, we can empower youth to overcome barriers, secure stable jobs, and contribute to their communities’ economic growth. 

Julieta Ocampo is a senior specialist of program communications at TechnoServe.

Frequently Asked Questions on World Youth Skills Day

Julieta Ocampo

Julieta Ocampo is a program communications specialist at TechnoServe, where she supports programs and senior management team leaders. She facilitates communication with institutional donors and partners and develops and implements communication strategies to enhance brand recognition. Julieta holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies from Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogota, Colombia, and a professional certification in business and marketing from Columbia University in New York.

Read More By Julieta Ocampo LinkedIn