At this year’s Global Youth Employment Forum in Abuja, Nigeria, over 200 young people from 65 countries offered insight into what actions the International Labour Organization (ILO) can take on youth employment.
According to statistics from ILO, 63 million young people are looking for jobs, while another 141 million are working and living in poverty.
In an effort to invest into young people and their ability to transition into decent work, the Global Youth Employment Forum found that there is a need to focus on the demand side of labor markets, create economics systems that consider climate change and migration, speed up educational reforms that emphasize digital skills, review market regulations of gender balance and expand social dialogue and youth engagement.
The ILO will address this issue and approach the future of work in a more human-centric way by “strengthening the capacities of all people to benefit from the opportunities of a changing world of work, strengthening the institutions of work and promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”
Now, the future of work is here, as seen in the growth of the gig economy, technology integration, decentralized workforces and increased flexibility. It is up to the youth to be prepared for it by exploring various career paths, polishing their skillset and honing creativity.
