When Youth meets the most transformative tool
On 15 July 2025, the global community marked the 10th anniversary of World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) a United Nations initiative that has, over the past decade, evolved from a symbolic observance into a platform for real dialogue and action on youth development. This year, the celebration carried added significance under the theme: “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills.”
In an age defined by digital transformation, this theme is more than timely it’s essential. Artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven systems are no longer the future; they are embedded in the present. From how we communicate and learn to how we work and govern, digital tools are reshaping every layer of society. For today’s youth 1.8 billion individuals aged 10 to 24 navigating this landscape demands more than access to technology. It requires digital fluency, ethical awareness, and the ability to adapt and lead in unfamiliar terrain.
WYSD 2025 brought these issues to the forefront through global dialogues, policy roundtables, and youth-led events. Unlike earlier iterations focused primarily on technical or vocational education, this year’s observance expanded the definition of skills. AI literacy, data interpretation, problem-solving, and critical thinking took center stage, signaling a shift from job-readiness to future-readiness.
But the day also highlighted persistent gaps. The digital divide remains a major obstacle: many young people, particularly in low-resource settings, still lack access to reliable internet, digital devices, or qualified educators. And while AI can personalize learning and widen access, it also risks amplifying inequality if inclusivity and ethics are not prioritized.
UNESCO’s renewed commitment to its Global Skills Academy, aiming to equip one million youth with relevant digital and employability skills by 2029, was one of the key outcomes of this year’s observance. It reflects a broader consensus: preparing youth for the digital era is not just a matter of training it’s a matter of global equity.
In essence, WYSD 2025 was both a celebration and a challenge a call to reimagine how we support youth in a world where technology is a powerful force for both opportunity and exclusion. The question now is not whether youth need digital skills but whether our systems are ready to help them develop those skills meaningfully, ethically, and at scale.
