Skills and Transition to Decent Work
Towards a skilled, employed, and empowered girl and youth force in East Asia and the Pacific
Challenge
East Asia and the Pacific is home to 285 million adolescent girls and boys, many of whom struggle to gain the skills needed to prepare for the future job market and reach their full potential.
Highlight: Around 160 million young people (aged 15–24 years) in the Asia-Pacific region are not in employment, education or training – nearly three-quarters are adolescent girls.
Traditional education systems are not keeping pace with the skills young people need to navigate a rapidly changing world. Many adolescents lack the digital green and life skills they need to secure decent work or explore entrepreneurial opportunities. This mismatch leaves them vulnerable to precarious employment, with girls and young women disproportionately at risk of working in low-paying, unstable jobs.
As global demand for green skills rises, countries in East Asia and the Pacific – already on the frontline of the climate crisis – must urgently shift towards a greener economy. Yet most young people, and especially girls, are not acquiring the skills needed to participate in and benefit from this transition.
Highlight: Just 1 in 20 young people (aged 12–27 years) have the green skills needed to tackle the climate crisis.
Young people are eager to drive change, but without access to climate knowledge and the green skills they need, they risk being left further behind – especially girls and young women, who already face significant barriers to decent work.
Solution
Equipping young people with the right skills is essential to unlocking opportunities for employment, breaking cycles of poverty and inequality, and driving sustainable development. Every adolescent girl and boy must have access to the knowledge and abilities needed to navigate the job market, contribute to their communities and build a greener, more inclusive future.
Education and training must prioritise employability, life skills, adaptability and leadership. Targeted programmes can help break down barriers for girls and young women, ensuring they have equal chances to learn, earn and lead.
As the world transitions to a greener economy, adolescents and young people also need the green skills to respond to climate change and seize emerging job opportunities. With the right support, all young people – regardless of gender or background – can take charge of their futures and lead positive change.
Resource
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WHAT UNICEF DOES
UNICEF works across the region to equip adolescent girls and boys with the essential skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Through evidence-based programmes and strategic partnerships with girl-focused and youth-led organizations, governments, and private sector, we ensure young people are prepared to access decent work, lead change and reach their full potential.
Life skills for employability
UNICEF provides comprehensive training through formal and non-formal education pathways, building critical life skills such as problem-solving, adaptability and communication. Initiatives like UPSHIFT take a holistic approach, combining social innovation, entrepreneurship and community-based problem-solving. Tailored to country needs, this model equips young people with the tools to tackle real-world challenges, foster resilience and contribute to their communities and economies.
Skilled and empowered girl-force
UNICEF implements targeted programmes to break down barriers faced by girls and young women, by developing the skills they need to succeed. Through the Skills4Girls Initiative, UNICEF supports adolescent girls in gaining competencies in STEM, digital technologies, social entrepreneurship and leadership. These efforts ensure girls in all their diversity can reach their full potential.
Green skills for green jobs
As economies shift towards sustainability, UNICEF is working with partners to expand opportunities for girls and young people to acquire green skills and prepare for the jobs of the future. By integrating climate education and practical training, UNICEF helps adolescents become leaders in building a more sustainable world.