World Youth Skills Day 2026 observed on July 15 with theme 'Skills for a shared future'

Key facts

• World Youth Skills Day is observed annually on July 15, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.
• The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2026 is 'Skills for a shared future'.
• The day highlights the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
• According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the global youth unemployment rate fell to 13% in 2023, a 15-year low.
• One in five young people globally were not in employment, education or training (NEET) in 2023, with young women's NEET rate (28.1%) more than double that of young men (13.1%).
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is central to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education.
• The United Nations (UN) observes World Youth Skills Day to promote skills development for youth employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.