World Youth Skills Day, which takes place on Tuesday, 15th July, will highlight the need for young people to be equipped with the skills they need for sustainable development, employment and entrepreneurship. The theme for this year, “Skills for a Resistant Youth”, highlights the importance of preparing young people to thrive and adapt in a world that is constantly changing. The youth unemployment rate is still high and the COVID-19 pandemic’s long-term impacts continue to change education and career paths. This makes it more important than ever that the next generation has the skills they need to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.
The skills gap is widening in education, which has a direct impact on the readiness of young people for the workplace. Businesses, educators and policy makers can all play a key role in providing youth with the in-demand abilities.
Investing learning and development opportunities
Recent research has revealed that 84 percent of organizations experience an IT skills shortage. Businesses should focus on improving their training and development strategy to retain and encourage the next generation to join the workforce.
According to Jess Powell of , Node4span “font-weight 400 ;”>,,”the new generation is more concerned with having tangible goals and a path that they can follow to achieve their career goals. It’s important for businesses to adapt. Node4 has a formalized process for helping employees create SMART goals and supporting line managers to work with employees in order to achieve them. We make sure the right training and developmental schemes are in place to help employees gain the skills needed to meet these goals and grow .”
She continues: “Investing into employee learning and growth is essential. It enhances job satisfaction and grows a team that has a variety of skills. It also improves retention.” These approaches will help our youngest employees to be well-prepared to meet the needs of their industry and to develop the skills they need to succeed wherever their career takes them .”
Mark Williams, the Managing Director EMEA of WorkJamspan Style=”font weight: 400 ;”>: Early career learning should not stop after initial training. Everboarding is a continuous and personalised learning path that meets individual needs over time. This tailored approach can help young employees build confidence, learn new skills and feel more connected to their organisation and role. Businesses benefit from increased staff retention, decreased turnover and a more capable, stronger workforce .”
Williams says that spanstyle=”font weight: 400 ;”>”Digital workplace apps are ideal for supporting this approach. By offering staff short, digestible modules they can access during quieter times on shift, or in real-time while working, the staff have greater control over their development. The ability to earn digital badges for completed modules opens up clear paths for progression and allows access to new roles. This can be a great opportunity for young workers to gain new skills, experience, and advance in their career. Businesses can boost their performance by investing in young talent and embracing continuous education.
A hands-on approach
To prepare the young generation for their career, it is important to give them more opportunities to experience a variety of industries and skills. Duncan Furgeson is the MD and European Vice President for Large Format Print at Epson UK. He acknowledges that this is important: “World Youth Skills Day reminded us how crucial it was to equip the younger generation with the skills they needed – not only for the sakes of employment but also for the futures of entire industries.” Epson has seen this in our work with students. Most recently, at the launch our Textile Academy, where we invited students see first-hand how digital textile printing functions. The students’ enthusiasm was not the only thing that stood out, but their connection to the type of innovation needed by the textile industry. .”
It’s amazing to see the speed at which students understand both the responsibility and potential that come with these tools,” says Mr. Addis. Their ideas and curiosity is the engine of progress. It is essential to invest in their development and in spaces which connect creativity with purpose. This will not only ensure the future sustainability of the textile sector, but it will also drive lasting innovation.
Meaningful mentorship
Mentorship programs can be used by organisations to support young colleagues who are just starting out in their career. A supportive mentor is a great way to help employees succeed and excel in their role.
Darren Thomson is the Field CTO EMEAI for Commvaultspan size=”font-weight 400 ;”>, and he understands its importance. He says, “A mentor can get to really know their mentees and offer them valuable insights and tailored support tailored to their interests.” It is much more motivating to work closely with a STEM mentor and explore the quirks, possibilities and excitement that a STEM career could bring than learning from textbooks or online. Hands-on learning .” is the best way to learn.
Thomson highlights the benefits of mentoring for both mentors as well as mentees: “Not just do the teens gain advice and support but the mentors find it extremely rewarding to work with them and inspire enthusiasm and a love for technology.”
The organisations that don’t invest in the skills and experience of the next generations will struggle long-term. It is essential to equip students with the necessary skills, whether through apprenticeships, digital learning tools or vocational training. This will help create a future workforce that is more innovative, resilient and inclusive.
The original version of this article Youth Skills Day: Building resilience for future appeared first on HR News.
