World Youth Skills Day: Skills the Youth needs to be empowered with to unlock a $5 Trillion Economy by 2025
World Youth Skills Day is a significant occasion that highlights the critical skills young people require to propel the global economy towards a promising future. By equipping the youth with the necessary knowledge and expertise, we can unleash their potential as catalysts for change and drive the economy towards a remarkable milestone of a $5 trillion economy by 2025.Together, we have the power to shape a brighter future where no young person is left behind. On this special day, let us join hands to recognize the immense capabilities of young individuals and make a commitment to provide them with the essential skills and abundant opportunities they need to thrive and succeed. By investing in their development and empowering them, we can create a society that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth. Through collective efforts, let us champion education, training, and mentorship to enable young people to realize their full potential. By cultivating a skilled workforce and fostering an environment that nurtures creativity and resilience, we can unlock new avenues of economic growth and build a prosperous and sustainable future for all.
On World Youth Skills Day, let us celebrate the achievements of young people and inspire them to embrace lifelong learning. By harnessing their energy and ambition, we can forge a path towards a better tomorrow where every young person can thrive, contribute, and shape the world around them. Together, let us embark on this journey of empowerment, acknowledging the importance of skills and education in unlocking the vast potential of the youth and paving the way for a prosperous and inclusive global economy.
Arun Balasubramanian, Vice President and Managing Director India and South Asia, UiPath
“World Youth Skills Day is an occasion to recognize the transformative power of automation skilling for India’s youth and its impact on our economy. Automation skills will play a vital role in shaping our nation’s future as our youth embrace digital transformation. The Government of India envisages the Indian economy to be worth $5 trillion by 2025. Equipping the youth with automation skills will be key to achieving this goal. Realizing India’s potential to harness the power of automation, we recently announced a partnership with FutureSkills Prime – A MeitY nasscom initiative to empower the workforce with automation skills and create a digital skilling ecosystem, fostering India’s growth as a global digital talent hub. These are small steps for a brighter automation generation.
Empowering the youth with automation skills prepares them for the jobs of tomorrow and fuels innovation. The impact on the Indian economy will be significant as automation-driven productivity gains reshape industries and create new opportunities. Moreover, automation skills will future proof our youth, ensuring continuous learning and career adaptability in a dynamic job market. Collaboration among the government, educational institutions, and industry leaders will be crucial to design comprehensive skilling programs and providing access to resources. Let us empower India’s youth with automation skills, to unlock their potential, build an AI-enabled future-ready workforce, and create an inclusive economy driven by innovation and automation.”
Anand Jain, Co-founder, and Chief Product Officer, CleverTap
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, technological advancements and digital transformation is the norm. The recent Future of Jobs report by the World Economic Forum highlighted the need for new-age skills required to succeed in the modern workplace, with 60% of companies mentioning that there is a lack of contemporary skills among candidates.
With the rate at which generative AI has been adopted into organizations, employees will need to adapt their skill sets to work in tandem with whichever LLM is deployed internally. Traditional roles of coders and content-writers will evolve into positions that require an in-depth understanding of how their LLM processes prompts and outputs results; requiring a higher degree of consultancy as opposed to execution.
There’s a palpable lag between rapid developments within tech, and the rate at which university curricula evolve. We must recognize the importance of bridging the industry’s talent gap by equipping the younger generation with the skills required in the age of AI. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on AI and automation, we must focus on fostering skills that complement these advancements.
Neha Bagaria, Founder & CEO, HerKey (formerly JobsForHer)
“To ensure a digital-centric future, it is imperative for India to recognize the vital importance of fostering a holistic skill development ecosystem encompassing not only technical and hard skills but also essential life skills. This holds particular significance for our young population, including women graduates entering the workforce, to mitigate the concerning trend of high dropout rates. We must prioritize equipping the youth with a comprehensive set of life skills that are equally valued alongside technical competencies in the era of automation and Industry 5.0. These essential life skills prepare individuals to effectively adapt to evolving environments. As advocates for the well-being of society, we firmly believe that the strength of a community depends on the opportunities it provides to all individuals. Therefore, as leaders, it becomes our responsibility to foster collaboration and establish a robust skilling ecosystem that caters to the multifaceted needs of today’s youth.”
World Youth Skills Day is celebrated every year to develop the skills of the youth and individuals to make them aware of the benefits they may have by developing skills. Youth and teens are encouraged to acquire the skill of their choices for their betterment and prosperous future.
Noida International University is well known for its efforts in making the youth and society skilled. We aim to make the youth self-reliant and self-employed. We also mean to promote ways to engage youth to become more actively involved in positive contributions to the communities. It is a time for development, time for growth, and change. It plays an essential role in the development of society to bring social reforms and improvement. With the increasing population at such a fast rate, it is of prime importance that the youths of today’s world be skilled enough to get a job.
We also provide unique opportunities for dialogue between young, technical, and vocational education. We also help the students to develop critical thinking by giving them practical knowledge that helps them in their communication skills. To showcase your leadership abilities, you can volunteer to take on responsibilities that lie outside of day-to-day work. We are also tutoring the vital role of skilled youth in addressing current and future global challenges. The more we give importance to skill development.
Pankaj Muthe, Senior Academic Program Manager (Asia Pacific), Qlik
According to NASSCOM’s report – State of Data Science & AI Skills in India, there is a 51% gap between the demand and supply for AI/ML Big Data Analytics tech talent in India. As upskilling remains crucial, Qlik recognized the need to bridge this gap in data literacy and introduced the Qlik Academic Program available to university students and educators. This program aims to enhance data literacy skills regardless of job role or educational background. We have 4 Centres of Excellence in Data Analytics in India and have partnered with more than 800 Indian universities and institutions. The Qlik Academic Program is present in over 100 countries, of which 44% of registered students are from India. Students and educators enrolled in the program also benefit from free software, training, and other learning resources
AI, and now generative AI, is rapidly taking over the way we work, giving more power to data than ever. The ability to work effectively with this data can’t be acquired in a day, and what it means to be data literate is constantly changing and evolving with each technology innovation. But by making learning in the workplace a deliberate and ongoing process, young employees will be well equipped with the data skills needed to build a pipeline of talent for the data-driven world of work we find ourselves in.”
Harshvendra Soin, Global Chief People Officer & Head – Marketing, Tech Mahindra
“Today’s youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are also the architects of innovation, progress, and change. By investing in their skills, we invest in the future of India, and this World Youth Skills Day is an excellent opportunity to recalibrate our efforts towards this initiative. In the current scenario, there is a need for the workforce to be future-ready and thus, the need to be a part of the reskilling revolution is imperative. The theme for this year is around skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future, and the sentiment echoes deeply within Tech Mahindra as we strive to RISE for a more equal and future-ready world, while creating value in everything we do.
At Tech Mahindra, we focus on youth skilling via major initiatives such as the Tech Mahindra Foundation Smart Centre, which offers free training and placement assistance to unemployed youth, in addition to creating reskilling and upskilling opportunities. As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, let us take this opportunity to recognize the importance of skilling and supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between education and employability and commit to playing our part in empowering the skilled youth of tomorrow.”
Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India
“With the increasing use of geospatial technologies, like GIS in various sectors of the economy, career opportunities in GIS are growing. The Indian Geospatial Industry is projected to drive the generation of over 10 lakh jobs by 2025. We are moving fast toward a location-rich personalized future, and thus the need for inculcating geospatial thinking and skills in the youth is crucial for solving the complex problems of tomorrow. It is also necessary to reskill the existing workforce. Through our partnerships with academia, we are continuously equipping science, engineering, and technology students; youth, and mid-career professionals with geospatial knowledge and skills. These initiatives prepare them for careers that nurture innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of our surroundings.”
Dr. Bharghava Rajaram, Professor, Mahindra University École Centrale School of Engineering
“Empowering teachers and youth through skill development is crucial, as one paves the way while the other seizes opportunities, for a promising future. Our current need is an inclusive and interactive approach, fostering effective pathways and enabling educators to embrace modern technologies like AI, robotics, cloud computing, AR/VR in the classroom. According to the WEF report, there is an urgent call for a ‘reskilling revolution,’ estimating that 44% of workers will require updated skills to ensure long-term employability. The National Education Policy (NEP) emphasizes courses such as IoT, AI, Industry 4.0, robotics and automation, which contribute to shaping well-rounded individuals and equipping them with valuable skill sets in today’s economy. Embracing this vision, Mahindra University has inculcated these aspects into its degree programs and is also introducing skill development and upskilling programs for both students and professionals, extending equal opportunities for all to secure highly sought-after jobs.”
Sqn Ldr Dimple Rawat (Retd), Director HR at Barco India
“It is rightly said that the true measure of a nation’s progress lies in the skill sets of its youth for, by empowering our young population with the right skills, we lay the foundation for a prosperous and self-sustaining India. Our talented youth forms the backbone of this great nation’s future-ready ambitions and we must reaffirm our commitment to skilling, upskilling, and reskilling them, if we are to offer them the wings necessary for fulfilling this dream. This World Youth Skills Day, I invite you all to join me as we commit to a ceaseless focus on initiatives that promote skill development, entrepreneurship, and innovation. By creating a conducive ecosystem that encourages collaboration, experimentation, and risk-taking, we can foster a generation of job creators and innovators, empowering them to become catalysts of change, thereby driving India towards a brighter and more inclusive future.”
Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India
“The youth is the backbone of any nation in its economic and overall development of society, and the need for regular skill development for the next generation has become paramount for the growth of a country. New-age disruptive technologies such as AI, IoT, ML, and cloud computing have become the core of everything we do, and this momentum demands new digital skill sets. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report, 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025, escalating the need to upskill and reskill the employees. As organizations are gradually becoming digitally savvy, upskilling employees is crucial to avoid any gap between the skillsets available and the organization’s needs.”
At MediaTek, we believe in investing in local Indian talent and scaling capabilities to drive innovation for India and global markets through dedicated technical training sessions, e-learning platforms, and regular opportunities for upskilling. The process instills loyalty as a virtue while giving employees the confidence and motivation to move forward and deliver their best, enabling them to capitalize on the various opportunities while being adaptive to transformations.”
Arvind Bali, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council
“A skilled workforce plays a critical role in a country’s economy and nation-building. This year’s theme around transformative future and recognizing the crucial role of educators in equipping young people with the skills is completely apt in a time when the world is going through a significant transition with disruptive technologies challenging traditional work. Skilling and up-skilling never been more crucial, TSSC is taking aggressive steps to train skilled workforce for telecom industry and 5G roll out. We are constantly working towards designing industry-driven skill development programs focused on specialized training in these technologies. As India is emerging as the fastest-growing economy, a youth with the right skills would be the key to ensure this growth momentum in future as well.”
Vaishnavi Shukla, HR Head, Comviva
“India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world with the largest youth population ready to be skilled in various domains, especially new age technologies. As an organization our impetus through the ‘Comviva Campus Connect’ program is at building academia-industry partnerships to work towards a common purpose of transforming the education system. In this direction we have partnered with top universities in Bhubaneswar to drive core technical competencies to develop market appropriate talent. With our various initiatives we are constantly working towards improving the quality of the talent pool available in India and make them better ready for industry demands. We strongly believe that investing in the next generation is investing in a prosperous tomorrow.”
Swapna Bapat, Vice President, Product Management, Palo Alto Networks
“In a country where 50% of the population is under 30, skilling youth should be a priority. With more than 40,000 vacant jobs in cybersecurity, based on a report, the demand-supply gap is at 30%. Established universities known for engineering and other technical disciplines have minimal cybersecurity specialization. While the Government of India has introduced promising initiatives like Cyber Surakshit Bharat and Digital Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Center), we need more holistic cyber-skilling programs.
With the high-stakes nature of the industry, those considering a career in cybersecurity must not overlook its tremendous importance and opportunities. The engineers who join this elite industry have an opportunity to be the combatants of threats, and play a crucial role in protecting individuals, organizations, and even nations from malicious attacks – thus contributing to the greater good. Joining early, they can develop highly sought-after skills and be part of a dynamic and ever-evolving industry. The demand for cybersecurity experts is rapidly growing, providing ample job opportunities and competitive packages.
A collaborative effort between governments, organizations, and cybersecurity providers can bridge the talent gap and equip young professionals with the necessary skills to meet the demands of the industry. Palo Alto Networks wants to build an entire ecosystem, not just for customers and partners, but also by nurturing young Indian talents. Our Cybersecurity Academy comprises a global network of more than 1,300 partner institutions in over 70 countries worldwide, where we work with leading cybersecurity academies to prepare students for careers in cybersecurity.
