Celebrating World Youth Skills Day

Every year on July 15th, World Youth Skills Day is celebrated around the globe. The observance was created in 2014 by the United Nations General Assembly to shine a light on the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

According to the most recent U.S. Census data, there are more than 250,000 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 currently residing in the 14 counties served by Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas (WSNCT). A 2020 McKinsey Global Survey on future workforce needs found that nearly nine in 10 executives and managers say their organizations either already face skill gaps or expect gaps to develop within the next five years. It is critical that young adults entering the workforce for the first time or who are early in their careers get the support they need to obtain skills employers are seeking.

Programs offered by WSNCT help the region’s young adults prepare for in-demand jobs with customized education and skills training programs created in collaboration with its college, technical and business partners. Currently, nearly 45% of 18 to 24-year-olds in the North Central Texas region have some high school education or are high school graduates. From high school equivalency classes and associate degrees to nationally-recognized certifications that can help workers earn 25-75% more money, WSNCT works to remove barriers that prevent people from entering and excelling in the workforce.

One of our customers, DeAnndrea, recently participated in WSNCT’s young adult program and is now on the road to the career of her dreams. Watch her story.

Our programs and services support youth and young adults of all abilities. We work in partnership with local Independent School Districts, businesses, community organizations and the Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation Services to provide work readiness training, job opportunities, career exploration counseling and other support services for youth and young adults with disabilities.

If you would like to become an Eligible Training Provider and join the hundreds of educational, technical and employer partners who work alongside us to prepare young people for the world of work, connect with us at etp@dfwjobs.com.

To learn more about Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas’ programs and services for young people, visit www.dfwjobs.com/youth-and-young-adult-career-services. For more information about World Youth Skills Day, please visit the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization website.