Celebrating World Youth Skills Day: Empowering the Next Generation Through Training
- mcphersonberry
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
July 15 marks World Youth Skills Day, a United Nations initiative launched in 2014 to champion the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. This global observance underscores the need for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), as well as soft skills development, to address youth unemployment and prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving job market.
At McPherson Berry, we're committed to empowering youth through our comprehensive training programs, workshops, and courses, including specialized offerings for young entrepreneurs and those starting their careers. This blog post explores how corporations, non-profits, and small businesses can nurture youth through training, with a focus on apprenticeships, internships, and our tailored programs, and highlights the value young talent brings to organizations.
The Value of Youth in Organizations
Young employees and entrepreneurs bring unique strengths to workplaces, driving organizational success:
Innovation and Creativity: Youth offer fresh perspectives, particularly in technology and and sustainability, fostering innovative solutions. A 2022 Deloitte study found that diverse, young teams drive 20% higher innovation rates.
Adaptability: Growing up in a digital era, youth quickly adapt to new tools and processes, enhancing workplace agility.
Social Impact: Hiring and training youth aligns with DEI goals and enhances employer branding — 80% of consumers prefer brands with strong inclusion commitments (Edelman, 2023).
Future Leadership: Investing in young talent builds a pipeline of skilled leaders, reducing long-term hiring costs.
At McPherson Berry, our staffing and recruiting services, combined with our robust training offerings, help organizations tap into this potential by nurturing youth through targeted skill development.
Actionable Strategies for Training and Supporting Youth
HR professionals and CEOs can leverage training to empower youth, aligning with the goals of World Youth Skills Day. Below are practical strategies, with an expanded focus on apprenticeships and internships, tailored to corporations, non-profits, and small businesses:
Invest in Apprenticeships and Internships
Action: Develop structured apprenticeship and internship programs to provide hands-on experience in fields like technology, healthcare, or business management. Partner with local schools, community colleges, or organizations like Year Up to recruit diverse youth. Offer mentorship during these programs to guide career development. McPherson Berry’s training programs can support organizations in designing effective apprenticeship curricula.
Implementation Tips:
For Corporations: Create paid, multi-year apprenticeships with clear career pathways, such as technical roles in IT or engineering. Include soft skills training (e.g., communication, teamwork) to prepare youth for leadership.
For Non-Profits: Partner with vocational programs to offer low-cost internships focused on mission-driven roles, like community outreach or program management.
For Small Businesses: Start with short-term, project-based internships using local talent pools. Leverage free platforms like Handshake to recruit interns cost-effectively.
McPherson Berry’s Role: Our workshops, such as those in our Course Catalog, provide training on workplace skills, leadership, and industry-specific competencies, enhancing apprenticeship and internship outcomes.
Offer Tailored Training for Young Entrepreneurs
Action: Provide courses and workshops specifically designed for young entrepreneurs, covering topics like business planning, financial literacy, and marketing. McPherson Berry’s Course Catalog includes programs like “Entrepreneurial Mindset” and “Starting Your Business,” tailored for youth launching startups.
Tip for Small Businesses/Non-Profits: Host virtual workshops using our cost-effective courses to support local youth entrepreneurs without straining budgets.
Provide Career-Start Training Programs
Action: Offer workshops for youth entering the workforce, focusing on resume building, interview skills, and workplace etiquette.
Tip for Corporations: Integrate our career-start workshops into onboarding to accelerate new hire productivity.
Promote Mentorship and Role Models
Action: Pair youth with mentors to inspire career growth. Host World Youth Skills Day events featuring young professionals sharing success stories.
Tip for Corporations/Non-Profits: Use our leadership workshops to train mentors, ensuring impactful guidance.
Conclusion: Building a Skilled Future
World Youth Skills Day is a call to empower youth with the skills they need to thrive in a dynamic world. By investing in apprenticeships, internships, and targeted training programs, organizations can unlock the innovation and potential of young talent. At McPherson Berry, we’re dedicated to supporting you with our staffing, recruiting, and training expertise, ensuring youth become your organization’s greatest asset.
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