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About 450 million young people globally lack the skills necessary for an AI-driven labor market; many are feeling unprepared for the modern workplace’s structures. In order to close the digital skills gap, the AI models and digital literacy process must be integrated into education policies as early as possible, alongside fostering other human-centered skills such as curiosity, leadership and continuous learning.
Background
Both the national decision-makers and employers are presently focused on re-skilling; however, the experts say, the “foundational AI literacy” must begin with educators to effectively guide students. Emphasizing a culture of digital confidence and continuous learning in national policies through practical applications in real-world contexts is crucial for developing relevant skills in the present evolving socio-economic structures.
Thus, to stay relevant in a rapidly digitally changing and AI-driven world, both human and digital skills must be developed. The main recommendation in the process of closing the growing digital skills gap, AI and digital literacy must be embedded into education systems early, with a persistent AI introduction at the workplace.
Technical skills, such as data literacy, cybersecurity, etc. are of course important; but human power skills, such as curiosity, adaptability, leadership and continuous learning, are equally essential.
Therefore, a true success process of -driven education is the one that provides students and learners in general some basic “knowledge-kits” for digital and AI solutions that are frequently applied at the workplace and facilitate AI-driven innovation. This message, that is specifically aimed at building digital competence for students and teachers, while unlocking potentials for the future skills, was delivered globally this July during the World Youth Skills Day.
New economy, society and education
It is calculated that presently, about 450 million young people. i.e. about seven out of ten world-wide are “economically disengaged due to a lack of adequate skills to succeed in the labor market”. Nearly half of students feel unprepared for an AI-enabled workplace and 58 percent are having insufficient AI knowledge, admits WEF’s report recently.
Source and citation from: https://centres.weforum.org/centre-for-new-economy-and-society/home
This widening skills gap threatens to leave many young people behind as the “world of work” is evolving and transforming: thus, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, the digital transition and AI will transform operations for nearly 90 percent of corporate activities by 2030; however, notes the report, many still underestimate the pace of employment transition’s process.
The growing integration of AI in socio-economic and education sectors has been driving the increasing demand for digital skills: i.e. particularly in big data, cybersecurity and technological literacy.
Bottom line is that as soon as the AI models and digital tools are the only effective means of transforming employment, the ways people use AI’s facilities, etc. are becoming essential for the labor market.
Although the employers are increasingly investing in re-skilling and up-skilling but skill-building must start early, notes the World Economic Forum’s report, Shaping the Future of Learning: “the role of AI in education underlines the need to embed AI literacy into education, building the background of competencies that will empower young people to engage critically, creatively and ethically with the AI models”.
Source and citation from the “Shaping the Future of Learning: The Role of AI in Education 4.0” (2025) in: https://www.weforum.org/publications/shaping-the-future-of-learning-the-role-of-ai-in-education-4-0/
World Youth Skills Day: being ready for the AI revolution
As AI adoption continues to rise, education systems, governments and businesses must invest in “skilling AI and technological literacy”; the talent development will remain competitive in an increasingly digital world. Success in the digital learning and education depends on a mindset of continuous learning, curiosity and adaptability.
During present World Youth Skills Day, both the national policy’s executives and education providers are urged young people, business community and governance sectors to concentrate on the “readiness for the AI revolution”.
The future of work is being shaped today by the newly required skills for development, as well as by the altering mindsets towards fostering the equitable opportunities that leaders and policymakers shall create to empower the next generation to thrive. This process, actually, means that education policy’s executives shall embed AI literacy into education’s curricula, expand access to developed quality-digital infrastructures, support teachers with up-to-date tools and training, as well as assure funding for inclusive skilling programs that reach modern youth.
Source: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/07/youth-skills-day-3-leaders-weigh-in-on-closing-the-digital-skills-gap-9bd97d38dc/
Global initiatives, such as Teach AI, call for updated policies, standards, curriculum, pedagogy, tools and assessments to prepare students for an age of AI. Supporting this, the draft AI Literacy Framework, released by the European Commission and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, with support from Code.org, outlines four key domains: engaging with AI, creating with AI, as well as managing and designing AI. Thus, Code.org has advised some tools to help students, teachers and/or parents to explore, teach and support computer science education.
More on the issue in Code.org: https://code.org/en-US
The World Youth Skills Day (which took place this year on 15 July 2025) has been a major milestone for the global skills movement; e.g. this year it is the tenth anniversary of World Youth Skills Day, an international day recognized by the United Nations to highlight the importance of equipping young people with the vocational and technical education to transform the world of work.
The World Youth Skills Day is a reminder of the strategic importance of equipping young people with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Presently, the global community (according to the World Youth Skills Day) is focusing on AI’s deployment that is reflecting the rapid digitization taking place in national and global industries. IT is emphasizing urgent need for AI to be effectively integrated into Technical and Vocational Education and Training curricula. This digital initiative stems from data compiled by UNESCO, which revealed that still “currently less than 10 percent of schools and universities provide formal guidance on AI”.
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, also stressed the importance of empowering a new generation with digital skills: “digital education must be human-centered, nurturing not only technical ability, but also creativity, critical thinking, and compassion. As AI reshapes our world, young people must be seen not just as learners – but as co-creators of a fairer digital future.”
Source and citation from: https://worldskills.org/media/news/celebrating-ten-years-world-youth-skills-day/